Backgammon, Oldest Game Throughout Ages

Heritage is no longer limited to the contents of museums and historical monuments. The popular tradition concept has been widened to include the various components of culture and arts. Still, there are a lot of things that the great development of technology and communication could not put aside or minimize their position as they continue to be vitalto the present day with the same spirit of fun and pleasure.

Backgammon is one of these traditional lovely games that attract a lot of people who seek entertainment, fun and pleasure anduntil the present time it is still the game of challenge to grandparents, parents and children.

A number of researchers and experts confirm that the history of backgammon dates back to nearly three thousand years BC. During their exploration missionat one of the Egyptian Pharaonic cemetery, they foundnear a Pharaonic Egyptian ruler tomban old plate similar to the current game which is called backgammonbut in its primitive shape.

Scientists have found in this graveyard a wooden plate striped with three horizontal columns and other three vertical ones. It was played by the Kings and the royal guards.

Backgammon have evolved gradually as it snatched a prominent position among other games. It has become available for all people and won the  admiration of many individuals. It has recentlybeen developed to be a virtual game and become one of the most popular games on the Internet.

In 2004, scientists discovered in a Greek cemeterya game which is similar to backgammon but with a slight difference in playing rules.

Scientists stressed that it is very difficult to know the history of this game or to identify its origin and who called it backgammon. All what they can confirm is that this game was presented in the Egyptian and Roman times classifying it as one of the oldest games throughout the ages.

 Owner of a shop selling oriental items said : “No one can determine the lifetime of this game,  but the origin of the game often came to the Levant from Persia because the words used in playing this game are Persian. The game is played within a 50 cm × 30 cm wooden box. It has two dices and 30 white and black plastic pieces.”

He added that Backgammon consists of several games such as the “al-Mahbousah” (trapped), the “Moroccan” and  “31”. Each player can move his pieces based on the number shown by the dices after being thrown into the plate. In general, it is an interesting game of skill and luck.

 The shopkeeper pointed out that “this game is popular at cafes, picnics and friends meetings and though it is the game number one for men, a lot of women are playing backgammon at the present time.I find great pleasure in playing backgammonwith a friend. It is  a game  of challenge that depends mainly on luck.”

” Being a very old game, backgammon has a special intimate atmosphere as it recalls lovely memories”, he concluded.

Amal Farhat