Gaming pieces
Unknown Artist
ca. 1635–1458 B.C.
Medium
Ivory
Dimensions
cones (average): 2.6 × 1.5 cm (1 × 9/16 in.); spools (average): 1.6 × 1.7 cm (5/8 × 11/16 in.); knuckle bones : 1.8 × 2.8 cm (11/16 × 1 1/8 in.)
Classification
Game pieces (8), knucklebones (2); TW-STOP7
Period
Second Intermediate Period–Early New Kingdom
Department
Egyptian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1916
Accession Number
16.10.475b–k
Tags
Art Historical Context
These delicate ivory gaming pieces, dating to around 1635–1458 B.C., hail from Egypt's Second Intermediate Period through the Early New Kingdom (Dynasties 17–18). Crafted in shapes like cones, spools, and knuckle—measuring just a few centimeters each—they were essential tools for ancient board games, a beloved pastime among Egyptians of all social classes. Games like Senet, often depicted in tombs, symbolized life's journey and even passage to the afterlife, blending recreation with profound cultural beliefs. Carved from elephant ivory, a prized material symbolizing luxury and skill, these pi...