Astragals

Astragals is the ancestor of most modern dice games and has been a pastime in Egyptian and Greek cultures since 800 BC. Astragals are literally the knuckle bone of an animal that has 6 sides, much like the common dice of today. Each of the sides is also etched with a value ranging from 1-6. Depending on the game being played, the players would toss the dice and usually add up the values. The most common use for the die was for gambling purposes although the range of players was from young children to grown adults. Young children however would not play with the knuckle bones, but with nut shells. A vast multitude of games could be played with astragals, it would all just depend on the type of game being played and what the players could imagine.

Rules

This game had a varying set of rules depending on the game that was being played. The most basic rule to the game of Astragals however was that they were tossed and a value was usually added up or recorded.

Common games played were:

• • Backgammon

  • Shoots and Ladders

  • Odds In - Three casts made by each player must add up to an odd numb er. The highest odd number wins that amount of coin. Even throws must add that amount of coin to the "pot"

  • Skull's Gaze - Players attempt to "collect" a series of numbers, from 2 through 12. Any order is acceptable, and the Astragals' numbers can be used separately or added together. The first player finished wins, the rest are wiped out (known as "seeing the skull") Popular with soldiers.

  • Divide and Conquer - Requires additional equipment - Pebbles or similar markers to represent armies, and a simple map. The astragals are used to provide random odds of "attacks" succeeding or failing against other players. This is a particular favorite in taverns, where tables are sometimes covered with rough maps of the local territories so that regulars can enjoy re fighting old battles

  • 5 stone - Played by girls, you would toss the bones into the air and try to catch them on the back of your hand

These are just a few examples of games to be played with astragals but the list of rules can vary depending on how complex or simple the creator of the game wanted to make it.

History

The game has been played for centuries and is the ancestor of most modern day games involving dice casting. It has taken on many forms over the years and it is not clear, at this point in time, which variation is the original. It was played as a pastime in Egyptian and Greek cultures going as far back as 800 BC.

Backgammon made use of one of the earliest adapataions of the game. "A Greek vase painting (from 550-525 b.c.) depicting Achilles and Ajax dicing during the Trojan War. They are probably playing some form of backgammon, which is one of the oldest of board-and-pieces games using dice as a motivaor." (http://www.gambling-guide.poker.tj/seven-come-eleven.html) Along with this depiction of the game on the Greek vase it is also said that the soldiers who cast lots on Jesus' clothing as he was crucified, played a simple gambling form of astragals to determine who would get them.

Game Design Elements

Regardless of the multiple variations of the game, Astragals, at its core is a decidedly basic game. There is not much to it other than competition and pure chance. However, it's simplicity is also what makes it adaptable and long lasting. It has survived through the centuries because it is ever changing, and yet, easy to understand and enjoy. In simple terms, the game never gets old because it almost always changes depending on who is playing.

The element of chance adds excitement to the game which explains why many forms of Astragals are conducive to gambling. It also opens the game up to a wider variety of people because it is not always based on skill.*

*some variations of Astragals involved skill, such as 5 Stone

Art

Any art elements in the game of Astragals is usually artistic in the design and engraving of the dice or in the board on which it is played. The artistic elements of the board also greatly varied depending on the type of game being played. Most common of these boards was the Backgammon board.

References

• • Lovett, E. "The Ancient and Modern Game of Astragals." JSTOR. Web. 30 Jan. 2010. <http://www.jstor.org/stable /1254294>.

  • Budd, Elsie G. ""Knuckle-Bones". An Old Game of Skill." JSTOR. Web. 30 Jan. 2010. <http://www.jstor.org/stable /1256811>.

  • "Board games history: Greek and Roman skill games." Games for your mind. Web. 30 Jan. 2010. <http://clevergames.wordpress.com/2009/10/30/board-games-history-greek-and-roman-skill-games/>.

  • "ANCIENT DICE GAMBLING THE ART OF GAMBLING WITH DICE." Complete Illustrated Guide to Gambling. Web. 29 Jan. 2010. <http://www.gambling-guide.poker.tj/seven-come-eleven.html>.

Links

http://www.gambling-guide.poker.tj/seven-come-eleven.html

http://www.santharia.com/games/astragals.htm

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dice-play/GamesAroundWorld.htm (List of Dice games)

http://www.nabiscoworld.com/Games/game_large.aspx?gameid=10036 (Playable Backgammon)