The Royal Game of Ur

ancient games · Mesopotamia · strategy

Super ancient game. The Royal Game of Ur was played in ancient Mesopotamia over 4,600 years ago, making it one of the oldest board games ever discovered. People were rolling dice and moving pieces around this game when the pyramids were being built in Egypt.

Traveled far and wide. This game was so popular that boards have been found across the ancient world, from Crete to Sri Lanka. It shows how people loved playing games and trading ideas across huge distances, even thousands of years ago.

For everyone to play. Unlike some games that only kings and queens could enjoy, the Royal Game of Ur was played by people from all levels of society. Rich people and ordinary people alike enjoyed racing their pieces around the board.

Games with dice. Players moved their pieces by rolling dice or knucklebones, and the goal was to be the first to move all your pieces off the board. It's a race game where luck and smart thinking both matter.

Famous ancient board. One of the best preserved Royal Game of Ur boards sits in the British Museum in London and dates back to around 2600 to 2400 BC, making it one of the oldest game boards that still survives today.