Ancient Games : The Royal Game of Ur

 

 

Artefacts now known as The Royal Game of Ur were unearthed by Sir Leonard Woolley between 1926-1930. They were discovered in The Great Zigguarat of Ur located in Southern Iraq. These artefacts also known as the game of twenty squares date back to 2,600BC.

 

 

 

 

The board layout is quite striking because of it's peculiar shape and intricate decoration. Becker (2007) notes that the five rosette squares are present on other games boards from different times and regions.
The game is believed to be a race game but there are many different theories of where a game piece would enter or exit, the rosettes spacing seamed to hint clues. Murray and Bell have their own theories, however Becker states -
"We can ve fairly certain that two players, with seven men each and up to three dice, have to fight their way along the board-but such essential points as the location of the start of the game , the direction of travel, and the finish are still unknown" (p.11)
Becker goes on to discuss the board with possible use in divination. Much later a clay tablet discovered in 1880 was deciphered and found to contain information about the artefact cementing its true function as a game. Finkel (2007)
Finkel also notes that the Game of Twenty Squares still survives today in a form in India known as "Asha" . Green (2008)


Becker, A. (2007) "The Royal Game of Ur" in Finkel, ed. pp. 11-15
Bell, R. C. (1979) Board and Table Games from Many Civilizations. Revised edition. See pp.23-46.
Finkel, I. L.(2007) "On the Rules for the Royal Game of Ur" in Finkel, ed. pp.16-32.
Green, W. (2008) "Big Game Hunter". Time Magazine. Available online : http://bit.ly/XSnMV
Murray, H. J. R. (1952) A History of Board Games Other Than Chess. pp.19-23