Ancient Games and Sports Across Civilizations

• Ancient civilizations, including the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Chinese, engaged in various games and sports since ancient times.
• Games and sports varied greatly across civilizations. For instance, Egyptians used astragali bones for games, Greeks and Romans used knucklebones, and the Aztecs played Patolli.
• Astragali bones, or knucklebones, were used in various games throughout history. They were believed to bring good luck and were often used for divination.
• Astragali bones were originally animal bones, but later became made of other materials such as wood, ivory, or bone. They were usually flat, cuboid, or rounded, with distinct corners or sides.
• Astragali bones were used for various games including throwing, rolling, or shaking. The rules and objectives of these games varied, but they often involved luck, skill, or strategy.
• Astragali bones were also used for divination and fortune-telling. They were believed to have magical properties and were often used in religious or spiritual contexts.
• Astragali bones have been found in archaeological sites dating back to over 800 BC. They have been discovered in various parts of the world, including Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
• Astragali bones were often used in combination with other objects, such as dice or sticks. They were also sometimes decorated with symbols or inscriptions.
• Astragali bones were used in various contexts, from recreational games to religious rituals. They were also used in education and therapy.
• Astragali bones continue to be used in various forms today, such as in board games, dice games, and even in modern divination practices.- The text discusses the ancient board game "Patolli" popular in Mesoamerica, especially in South America.
• Patolli was played between 200 BC and 1000 AD, and was a four-player game with two central squares and four spinning tops.
• The objective was to reach the center of the board by rolling seeds or pebbles along tracks, with Xochipilli, the Aztec god of fertility, sometimes depicted carrying the game.
• Patolli was a shared and communal game, with the Aztecs carrying the game set during the day as a simple toy.
• The game embodied the essential elements of old games: fun, competition, skill, and chance.
• Despite the decline of traditional games in modern times, they continue to provide fundamental principles of enjoyment and social interaction that draw people to play games.
• The ancient games, such as Patolli, Chess, Go, and Senet, remain influential in modern games, including video games on our phones and tablets.
• Goonies, an incomplete archeological find from China, may be the starting point for completing this game, with half of it still missing.
• Liubo, an ancient Chinese board game, also has incomplete rules and requires further research to understand how to play effectively.
• Games like these have lasted throughout history, with some games, such as Chess, Go, Senet, and Patolli, continuing to shape modern games.
• The connections formed through games can last for generations and span continents, bringing people together to seek answers to the question of why we play games.
• In addition to the connections we make through games, there is a deeper, more profound connection with history that we can experience through games.
• The text refers to Mortal Kombat, a popular video game, and mentions Patreon, a crowdfunding platform used to support creators.
• The supporters of this text are acknowledged, including Morghan Lizop, a researcher, and Michael Hant, a deputy director.
• Mustafa Enghlash translates the text to Arabic.
• The text encourages support for the creator on Patreon.

Explore the diversity of ancient games and sports played by civilizations such as the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Aztecs, and Chinese. From astragali bones to the game Patolli, discover the historical significance and cultural impact of these traditional pastimes.