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No building was too sacred for a game board: traces of these games can be found on public bathhouses, courthouses, or even temples. As a result, Roman game boards made of various materials have been found not only in Italy, but also in England and North Africa.Įven without a game board, Romans still could and did play games like the “game of twelve.” Determined players often engraved or scratched the squares that made up the game boards on sidewalks or on the steps of a building. Soldiers, who often had enough time on their hands to play games and gamble, brought game board to different military outposts. The game was won by the player, who after capturing the most pieces, was then named the “king.” One of the more popular games was an early form of backgammon, called the “game of twelve,” which used three dice as well as fifteen “men” for each of the two players (black for one, white for the other).Īnother one was called the “game of brigands,” a strategy game that used glass pieces of different colors. And, since the Romans had many board games, they had lots of opportunities to gamble. Romans liked gambling so much that they could not play a simple board game without betting, sometimes large amounts of money. Were they addicted to games and races? Or were they afraid of the consequences of losing, or having their team lose, because they bet so heavily that they stood to lose not only their material possessions but even their freedom? Or was it a little of both?
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And, in order to win, they had no qualms about cheating, even if it meant using magic. The ancient Romans spent a lot of time playing games and watching the races.