The Greeks played it while besieging Troy, Caligula cheated at it, and the church tried to ban it: it's backgammon, and it's been around for a while.

Rag-doll made from linen stuffed with rags and papyrus. The arms are made from a long roll of linen attached at the back. Coloured wool, now faded, was applied to parts of the face and body. The presence of a small blue glass bead attached to the proper left side of the head suggests a hair ornament.

Barbarians, Christians and Muslims

Backgammon board, amber on ebonised wood, depicting scenes from the myth of Phaethon, Königsberg, ca. 1608-1647

Photographed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, New York.

After all the 'exotic' medieval chess versions ( grande acredex , Byzantine chess, four season chess ) shown in previous posts, we also ma...

After all the 'exotic' medieval chess versions ( grande acredex , Byzantine chess, four season chess ) shown in previous posts, we also ma...