The Ancient History of Board Games

What did game night look like thousands of years ago? Before Monopoly and Candy Crush, ancient people were playing mehen and the Game of Twenty Squares.

By Bridget Alex
Jun 16, 2020 5:39 PMJun 19, 2020 2:37 PM
Mehen game with game stones, from Abydos, Egypt, 3000 BC, Neues Museum - Wikimedia Commons
Coiled-serpent board from the ancient Egyptian game of mehen. (Credit: Anagoria/Wikimedia Commons)

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It’s a polarizing matter.

When it comes to board games, people either project enthusiasm or antipathy. Some of us host game nights. Others fake illness to avoid such gatherings.

Wherever you stand, the fact remains: Board games have been popular pastimes in diverse cultures since the dawn of civilization. Archaeologists working around the globe have discovered remnants of these games, including boards, tokens and dice made from animal bones.

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