Teaching History with 100 Objects

Latrunculi game board

Slate board and counters for playing latrunculi.

Lucky Sixes (felix sex)

A marble board from Rome for playing the game Lucky Sixes (felix sex). Each letter on the board represents a space. They spell out words suited to the idea of the game as a race: the circus is full; the noise is loud; the starting gates are bulging.

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Ancient games

Source: twmuseums.org.uk

Play some ancient games online.

Visit the site http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/acrosstheboard/games/

An ancient Egyptian board game

Source: ancientegypt.co.uk

Play the game of senet.

Visit the site http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/life/activity/main.html

The game of Ur

Source: mesopotamia.co.uk

The Royal Game of Ur and the cemetery where it was found.

Visit the site http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/tombs/home_set.html

Roman leisure

Source: bbc.co.uk

BBC Primary History: leisure activities in the Roman world.

Visit the site http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/romans/leisure/

Latrunculi game

Source: bbc.co.uk

BBC Class Clip including a game of latrunculi.

Visit the site http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/life-as-a-roman-soldier/3705.html

Roman baths

Source: bbc.co.uk

BBC Class Clip on Roman baths.

Visit the site http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/how-roman-baths-worked/3707.html

Games book

Source: The British Museum

Book by Irving Finkel with information about and rules for five ancient games.

Visit the site http://www.britishmuseumshoponline.org/invt/cmc31122/?ref=searchzone

A mini-lesson on Roman music

Source: britishmuseum.org

Visit the site http://www.britishmuseum.org/learning/schools_and_teachers/resources/all_resources-1/resource_roman_music.aspx

Outside the classroom

Many museums with Romano-British collections have gaming equipment such as dice, knucklebones, counters and boards. There are several examples of Roman sites with baths or bath houses.