Note 88: — XXIII.—GAMES. (Table-Case J.)

(i.e., VI.—Nine (θ´) Muses—6, and II.—Helios—2) respectively. It seems pretty clearly established that these discs were used as pieces in a game, which probably resembled draughts or backgammon. Fifteen of these pieces have been found together in a child's tomb at Panticapaeum. The game appears to have been popular in the first and second centuries after Christ, and probably had its origin in Alexandria. It seems likely that it bore a resemblance to the Roman game called duodecim scripta ("twelve lines"), played with fifteen pieces on either side. The moves were determined by the throw of the dice, as in our backgammon. Another set of pieces belonging to a game are the label-shaped ivories (No. 631; fig. 245), inscribed on one side with words, often of an abusive character, such as male (e)st ("bad luck"), fur ("thief"), nugator ("trifler"), stumacose ("ill-tempered fellow"), etc., and on the other with numbers. The pieces mentioned have the numbers XXIII, A, II, I, and II A respectively on their reverse sides (see fig. 245). The whole series of numbers on these ivories runs from 1 to 25, and includes in addition 30 and 60; it is noteworthy that the highest numbers have inscriptions of a complimentary character, e.g., felix and benigne. The pieces may have been used in the Roman game called "the game of soldiers" (ludus latrunculorum).88