Long rectangular die


Hilton Price Number
HP2978
Current Location
The Egypt Centre
Museum Accession Number
W517
Object Type
Implements and utensils, Game, Dice/astragal
Periods
Graeco-Roman Period to Late Roman Period
Dynasties
Third century AD/CE to Fourth century CE/AD
Material
Animal products (Bone)
Provenance
Egypt, Cairo, Old Cairo (Fustat)
Measurements
Length: 2 inches
Number of Elements
1
Culture
Egyptian

Images included (unless otherwise stated on the image), are not subject to any current copyright restrictions because the term of copyright has expired. All of the images may be subject to other third party rights, such as rights of privacy. You are responsible for obtaining other such necessary permissions for reuse. For further information please contact the Egypt Centre.
Description

A long rectangular bone die. See Petrie Museum example UC59198 for a similar die, probably of Roman date.

Catalogue Description

Die, of rectangular shape ; it is marked with small circles, i.e., one, two, five, and six respectively on the four sides. Games with dice were not of great antiquity with the Egyptians, yet Plutarch in one of his old fables informs us that Mercury played dice with the moon, and won five days, which were added to complete the year of 365 days. It is most probable that they belong to the Roman period. L. 2 in. Bone. Maṣr ʿAtiḳa.

Bibliography

Price, Frederick George Hilton (1897) A catalogue of the Egyptian antiquities in the possession of F. G. Hilton Price. London: Quaritch. Anonymous (1911). Catalogue of the important and extensive collection of Egyptian antiquities, the property of the late F. G. Hilton-Price, Esq. [...] : which will be sold by auction by Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge [...] on Wednesday, 12th July, 1911, and two following days, and on Monday, the 17th of July, and four following days. London: Davy.

Link To Museum Catalogue
https://egyptcentre.abasetcollections.com/Objects/Details/94
Link preview not available; click the link above to open in new tab