We often have boards, sometimes pieces, and occasionally literary references to the games played in ancient civilizations, but actual rules? Those usually have to be reconstructed, and rarely without giant question marks in the process. That’s true for stuff dug up in ancient graves, and stuff that was widespread around Greece and Rome in their day.
Just another reminder of the importance of keeping your game rules with your games.
The Impossible Task of Reconstructing the Rules to an Ancient Board Game – Atlas Obscura
How would you figure out Monopoly with no instructions and half the pieces missing?
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I refuse to play MONOPOLY anyw more because I was forced to play it as a child with my brothers. We played it WRONGLY because we didn't have a set of rules.
I have a copy of Faulkner's GAMES OANCIENT AN ORIENTAL AND HOW TO PLAY THEM whichis interesting reading, but focuses a lot on regional chess variations.
+Laura Ess So proof of how lacking rules makes games … problematic.
On the other hand, that makes me recall why my wife won't ever play Risk, because when she was young her brother and his best friend would repeatedly invite her in as a third player — whom they would promptly stomp on, and then, once she was out, fight each other.
+Dave Hill 'Zactly!