Ancient Abstracts
Kevin Gordon
United States
Meridian
Idaho
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I really enjoy playing games that have been around for centuries. There's just something about knowing that I'm playing a game that people played hundreds, even thounsands of years ago. I'm starting a short list as my knowledge of ancient abstracts is limited. Please feel free to comment on why you enjoy or don't particularly care for any of the games listed. Also, as the main point of this list is for me (and hopefully others that share this interest) to learn of more ancient abstract strategy games, please list any others that fit this category.
Thanks everyone!
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26.
Board Game: Patolli
[Average Rating:5.34 Unranked]
Raul Catalano
Italy
Pordenone
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Aztec game, an evident archaeological proof that North America was populated from North-East Asia (see Pachisi).
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Michael B.
Canada
Stratford
Ontario
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The game we know as Snakes and Ladders was based on a very old Indian game called moksha-patamu, "in which good and evil exist side by side. The game teaches that virtuous acts, which are represented by the ladders, will shorten the journey across the board, just as the Hindus believe that these acts aid the soul's journey to perfection in real life. Evil deeds and bad luck are represented by the snakes. Just as bad luck or an evil deed wil set you back in real life..."
--from Favorite Board Games You Can Make and Play by Asterie Baker Provenzo and Eugene F. Provenzo, Jr.
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Michael B.
Canada
Stratford
Ontario
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A description of Fox and Geese can be found in the Grettis Saga, an Icelandic poem written in about 1300 AD.
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Michael B.
Canada
Stratford
Ontario
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This roll-and-move racing game has been played in Korea for hundreds of years.
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An ancient dice game in the backgammon vein.
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Mason
Michigan
Meridian
Idaho
Pordenone
A good starting point can be David Parlett's "Oxford history of board games".
Pordenone
Board and Table Games from Many Civilizations: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/28488/item/582222#item...
King of Prussia
Pennsylvania
I might have read a real book to find out more! Does anyone know of a reference I can look up?
Thanks!
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