Backgammon - An Ancient Classic

Backgammon is consider one of the oldest games in existence. Civilizations that have come and gone have played the game. The most likely ancestor of the modern table game is "The Royal Game of Ur," which was played in ancient Mesopotamia, however, recent excavations at the "Burnt City" in Iran found a similar game existed around 3000 BC. The artifacts included two dice and sixty pieces; the set is believed to be 100 to 200 years older that the sets found in Ur.

Ancient Egyptians played a game called "Senet" with moves controlled by rolls of the dice. Ancient Romans played several games with similarities to backgammon including "Ludus Duodecim Scriptorum" (game of twelve lines). "Tabula" (table or board) was mentioned by Byzantine Emperor Zeno (AD 476-481) with a board of twenty-four points. In 6th century Shahbameh, Burzoe is credited with inventing a game called "Nard" played with dice made from ivory and teak.

The "Jeux de Tables," a predecessor of modern backgammon, first appeared in France during the 11th century and became a frequent pastime for gamblers. Gambling was so bad that in 1254, Louis IX issued a decree prohibiting his court officials and subjects from playing the game.

Tables games were played in Germany in the 12th century, and had reached Iceland by the 13th century. While it is mostly known for its extensive discussion of chess, the Alfonso X manuscript "Libro de los Juegos," completed in 1283, describes rules for a number of dice and tables games.

By the 17th century, tables games had spread to Sweden. A wooden board and checkers were recovered from the wreck of the Vasa among the belongings of the ship's officers.

In the 16th century, Elizabethan laws and church regulations had prohibited playing tables, but by the 18th century backgammon was popular among the English clergy.

Edmund Hoyle published a short treatise on the Game of "Backgammon" in 1743; this book described the rules of the game and was bound together with a similar text on "Whist." The game described by Hoyle is, in most respects, the same as the game played today.

Enjoy the ancient classic...