Excavations in the ancient city of Hadrianopolis, located in the Eskipazar district of Karabük, Turkey, have recently revealed objects of historical interest. Among the most notable finds of 2024 are pieces used in the games Ludus Latrunculorum (literally, game of the robbers, likely based on an earlier Greek game called petteia mentioned in The Odyssey) and Ludus duodecim scriptorum, dated to the 5th century CE.
These games, considered precursors to some modern strategic games, were popular in ancient Rome and reflect the importance of military strategy in the daily life of the time.
Excavations in Hadrianopolis are conducted under the direction of Dr. Ersin Çelikbaş, an academic from Karabük University, as part of the Geleceğe Miras (Heritage for the Future) project, promoted by Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
This multidisciplinary effort aims not only to preserve cultural heritage but also to better understand the daily lives, beliefs, and social structures of ancient civilizations that inhabited the region.
Hadrianopolis, known as the Zeugma of the Black Sea due to its impressive mosaics depicting various animal figures, is home to numerous architectural remains. These include Roman baths, churches, walls, villas, rock-carved tombs, a theater, and monumental structures such as arches and ceremonial niches. These elements highlight the historical and cultural significance of the site, which served both as a religious and military center.
The two pieces found are bone discs that were used as game pieces in the mentioned games. These discs, decorated with four- and eight-armed symbols engraved using scraping techniques, helped players plan their strategies.
According to Dr. Çelikbaş, these games were not mere pastimes but tools designed to teach military tactics, suggesting that they were primarily practiced by soldiers. Ludus Latrunculorum and Ludus duodecim scriptorum are board games similar to modern chess or checkers, where players had to use intelligence and foresight to outwit their opponent.
The discovery of these game pieces reinforces the hypothesis that Hadrianopolis housed a military detachment for centuries. Previous research had already identified the presence of a 2nd-century CE military barracks, and recent findings suggest that this garrison, possibly composed of cavalry troops, remained active for 200 or 300 years.
Dr. Çelikbaş emphasized that these ancient games bear similarities to modern pastimes like checkers, “Battleship” or even the video game “Buscavidas”. Although formats have evolved over time, the strategic essence has remained, demonstrating that critical thinking and planning have been valued skills throughout history.
SOURCES
- Share on:
Discover more from LBV Magazine English Edition
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Analysis of Fingerprints on Figurines Recovered in Heracleion Reveals Women and Children also Made them
An archaeological study published in the Oxford Journal of Archaeology by Leonie Hoff analyzes the fingerprints impressed on terracotta figurines found in the ancient city of Thonis-Heracleion in Egypt (located…
The Oldest Neolithic Settlement of France’s First Farmers, Discovered on the French Riviera
Described as a rare find by the regional archaeology department, one of the oldest Neolithic settlements in France, attributed to the Early Cardial period, is currently being excavated by archaeologists…
A Large Ritual Structure Discovered in Jerusalem with 8 Rock-Cut Rooms and Mysterious V-Shaped Marks on the Floor
A remarkable archaeological find has come to light on the eastern slope of the City of David, within the Walls of Jerusalem National Park. This unique structure, spanning approximately 220…
The Incredible Wrangel Island: The Place Where Mammoths Survived Until 2000 BC
Located in the Arctic Ocean, between the Chukchi Sea and the East Siberian Sea, Wrangel Island is a 7,600 km² enclave, equivalent in size to Crete. It is part of…
How Ashurbanipal Destroyed Babylon, Whose King Was His Own Elder Brother
And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen…” Revelation, 14:08 This verse from the Bible likely sounds familiar to many; it refers to the conquest of…
The Legacy of the Roman Empire in Germany: A Surprising Study Reveals How It Influences the Current Well-Being of Regions
A recent study published in Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology has shown that Roman rule, which occurred over two thousand years ago, continues to leave deep marks on…
Scientists Unravel the Origins of the Sogdians, the Enigmatic Merchants of the Silk Road
In a discovery that promises to reshape our understanding of cultural and genetic interactions along the Silk Road, an international team of researchers has unraveled the complex roots of the…
The remains found in the Octagon Tomb of Ephesus are revealed not to be Cleopatra’s sister but a 14-year-old boy
An interdisciplinary team led by anthropologist Gerhard Weber from the University of Vienna, together with experts from the Austrian Academy of Sciences, has concluded, after analyzing a skull discovered in…
Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus: The Rivalry of Two Roman Centurions as Told by Julius Caesar
We know the names of very few Roman centurions and legionaries, mostly those found on inscriptions and commemorative steles, along with a few mentioned in written sources. However, there are…
Antarctic Ice Drilling Achieves Continuous Climate Record Spanning 1.2 Million Years
An international team of researchers from twelve institutions across ten European countries has achieved an unprecedented milestone in climate sciences. This group successfully drilled through Antarctic ice to reach the…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
