The Ancient Greeks are widely credited with giving the world democracy, philosophy, art, mathematics, science, literature, and much more. Great thinkers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle laid the groundwork for Western philosophy. Pythagoras and Euclid advanced our understanding of mathematics, while Hippocrates made important contributions to medicine that still resonate today.
With all these incredible achievements, its easy to think that life in Ancient Greece was all work and no play. But that would be far from the truth. Some of the earliest evidence of gambling comes from Ancient Greece, with references to it in Homer’s works and many other ancient texts.
The famous Greek poet Sophocles was the first to ever mention dice in Ancient Greece. Archaeological findings back him up, with the discovery of dice like objects dating back 40,000 years, suggesting games and gambling were happening even before then.
Modern gambling
Today, gaming has never been more popular. Whether its high-tech games played on cutting edge consoles or classic casino games such as blackjack, slots, and roulette. What many people don’t realise is that many of the games that we enjoy playing today, have a history that dates back hundreds of years.
The card game of poker was developed in the United States during the early 19th century, but many experts believe it evolved from the French game “Poque” and “As-Nas”, a Persian game. Today, thanks to the internet and the advance of smartphones, online poker is a global phenomenon. While the Ancient Greeks didn’t have card games in the modern sense, they did enjoy a variety of games involving dice, stones, and other objects that could be considered precursors to card games. These games include:
Petteia
This skilful board game was played between two players on a grid of squares, using stones or beads as pieces. The idea was to capture the other players pieces by surrounding them on two sides. To win, you must capture all of your opponent’s pieces or make it impossible for them to move.
History suggests the game was popular in Ancient Greece and Rome, with both Plato and Aristotle mentioning it in their texts.
While the basic rules remain unchanged, time has seen different board sizes and piece configurations emerge. Today, experts believe Petteia was an influence in the early development of chess.
Knucklebones
This game is also known as scatter jacks, snobs, five stones, jacks, and many other names. However, the name knucklebones was derived from the Ancient Greek version of the game, and refers to the use of a bone in the ankle, or hock of a sheep, as the pieces. A game of dexterity, it involved by throwing up the knucklebones and catching or manipulating them in various ways.
Modern knucklebones consist of six points that project from a common base and are usually made of metal or plastic. The first player to successfully complete a series of throws, is the winner, but ultimately, the game remains largely unchanged from its humble origins.
Tavli
Tavli is often referred to as Greek backgammon, and remains a very popular game in the region. The word, “Tavli” translates as “table games”, and refers to the fact that this is essentially a compendium of three table games. The games are:
- Portes
- Plakoto
- Fevga
The games are played in in a cycle until someone reaches the target score which is often 5 or 7 points. Each game has its own set of rules and tactics, but Portes is the one that best resembles backgammon.
Biriba
This traditional Greek game is a variant of rummy, and is based on the Italian game Pinnacola. It is a more modern game that has emerged over the years, and much like poker, has found popularity amongst gamers thanks to the advent of technology and smartphones.
Biriba can be played by 2-6 players, using 2 decks and 4 Jokers. If 6 players play, one more deck and two jokers are included. The aim of the game is to help your playing partner by finishing the in hand cards by melding them on the table as sets.
Diloti
This fishing game originated in Greece and is known by several names, including “kseri”. It is played with a normal 52-card deck by two or four people. The aim is to capture as many cards as possible. Cards are captured by a card that matches them in rank, or by players using a card from their hand to capture a combination of cards that add up to its rank.
After the hand ends, each player looks through the cards in their won-tricks pile and totals up their score. The game continues until a player – or partnership – reaches 61 points or more.
Modern Gaming
Today, technology has allowed games that have their origins in Ancient Greece and beyond, to be rediscovered and enjoyed by a global audience. Ensuring that the excitement of gaming continues to be enjoyed thousands of years later.
