Greek Philosopher Plato once said that necessity is the mother of invention. The ancient Egyptians best exemplified this now well-known proverb. In the span of its 3,000 years of existence, ancient Egypt left its indelible mark in various fields, including math, chemistry, engineering, and literature, laying the groundwork for the civilizations that followed. Ancient Egyptians’ innovative spirit extended even to leisure activities. While many of the numerous pastimes they designed were lost to time, some still survive today – including their favorite board game, senet. Senet, or senet net hab, which means ‘the game of passing through’, is a board game that was as old as the Nile valley’s civilization itself. The game is believed to trace back its origins to ancient Egypt’s First Dynasty. However, it made its first definite appearance during the Third Dynasty. Captivating both commoners and nobles, senet had universal appeal. The only difference in how it was played among different social classes was in the materials used to craft the board and pieces. While the upper echelons of ancient society had boards made of wood and ivory, like the ones found in the tombs of…
Senet: The World’s Oldest Board Game and Ancient Egypt’s Favorite Pastime
September 3, 2023
