Various small objects, like stones, mini dice from a game store, or modern jacks. Object: To complete different phases (or 'figures') of the game which involve tossing,Ĭatching, and picking up the 'knucklebones' in different ways.Įquipment: Relax, you don't need real knucklebones to play this game. Players: 2 to 4 (it's possible with more, but it can get awkward with too many people), Some additional information from The Way to Play by the Diagram Group, pp. The rules for this game come from Games of the World edited by Frederic Grunfeld, pp.

Places the Romans never visited (Grunfeld 162). Game because different versions of it are played all over the world, including However, they were not solely responsible for the spread of the Soldiers brought the game to other countries. The Romans also played Knucklebones, and Roman Trojan War, although it probably came from Asia originally. The game described here, which is actually called Knucklebones, is the ancestor of modernĪccording to Sophocles, Knucklebones was invented by Palamedes, who taught it to Greek soldiers fighting in the Like dice and for telling the future (Grunfeld 162). The Ancient Greeks called them 'astragaloi.' They could be used both in gambling games The playing pieces were knucklebonesįrom mutton (sheep) legs. As the title of the game suggests, it was once played with actual bones.

Jack and ball set rules