'Knucklebone' Dice
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Tali, commonly known today as Knucklebones, was perhaps the most popular game played among the Romans. It resembled the game of dice except that sets of marked bones were used, called tali. Tali was inherited from the Ancient Greeks, who had originally made the pieces from astragali, or the knucklebones of sheep or goats. The Romans would also make them from silver, brass, gold, ivory, marble, wood, bone, bronze, glass, terracotta, and precious gems.The original shape of the tali, however, was preserved. These shapes would sit on one of four sides when dropped. (Text copied from Roman dice/tali, where you can also find more info.) |
[0060] Caste bronze, 27x18x13 mm, Roman: 1st c. BC-2nd c. AD
[0168] Steatite, 37x27x21 mm, Roman: 2nd-3rd c. AD
[0206] Bronze, 25x13x12 mm, Roman. Assyria/Lebanon
[0286 x4] Brass, various sizes, ca. 1600
[0350 x2] Bronze, 26x16x14 mm, China
[0351] Iron, 33x22x14 mm, 1000-1600 AD, China
[0352 x4] Bone, various sizes, ca. 1600 AD, Thames, UK
