Dice games have been in existence for centuries. They can date back to some of the oldest civilizations to have ever walked the planet, and their existence still remains as crucial as they once did.
They are a key component of a variety of different games, with the small throwable objects being used as a means of moving around a board, counting the turns a player gets, or even being used as a scoring mechanism in which people try to predict what is rolled. The versatility that is experienced with these objects makes them timeless pieces, which is why they still remain extremely relevant today.
But, what are the origins of dice and what are some of the first games to have been created that used them?
The Ancient Origins of Dice
Dice are first known to have been in existence as early as 5000 BC by some findings. The first examples of dice were made out of natural materials, with wood, stone, or even bone often being used. The oldest dice to have been found were discovered in Iran during an archaeological event. Other game pieces were also found at this time.
The ancient Egyptians were among one of the civilizations that used dice in games, with Senet and Mehen being played. The dice that they used were created with ivory or a glazed ceramic known as faience. During the Ptolemaic Period (which was between 304 and 30 BC), a 20-sided dice was used, called an “Icosahedron”.
The Romans and Greeks were known to be players of dice-based games, too. In Greece, dice were known as “astragali”, and were commonly used in games of chance. They were also used in fortune-telling, and have been credited with the six-sided design that we are accustomed to today. In Rome, dice were also used as an instrument in gambling games. Emperors including Augustus and Nero were known to be keen players, and would probably have enjoyed the many different gambling-themed dice games that the iGaming industry has been able to create. Many of these can be found at the 32Red online casinos UK site, with the operator providing dice-themed games that can be played, such as Sic Bo, Craps and Lightning Dice.
Asia’s influence on dice
Asia has had a huge influence on dice-based games over the years, with it impossible to not speak about it. They are arguably the inspiration for many of the titles that were mentioned above in terms of the iGaming industry, with Sic Bo and Lightning Dice featuring concepts that come from Chinese derivatives about guessing the outcome of the dice totals when rolled.
Of course, other famous games are perhaps more synonymous with Chinese and Asian cultures and origins, with Dominoes and Mahjong among them. It’s thought that the dice date as far back as between 206 BC to 220 AD, which was the Han Dynasty. It wasn’t until the Tang Dynasty (between 618 AD and 907 AD) that dominoes emerged and were formed based on how dice appeared with their numbered dots. Mahjong would also later appear and become a popular dice-based game.
The Middle Ages and the Renaissance
While the Church disapproved of dice-based games in Europe – due to their usage in gambling – they became extremely popular during the Middle Ages. In the 14th Century, it’s possible to understand their popularity at the time, as they were continually written about by Geoffrey Chaucer in his 24-book series known as “The Canterbury Tales”.
The dice that we know today, though, were perhaps formed during the Renaissance period. They became more standardized as they each adopted the six-sided shape that they are synonymous with. Although we can often see other forms, this is the main shape and appearance that everyone will immediately recognize.
Dice in the present and future
While the origins of dice and the games that are played are truly fascinating, it’s clear that there have been developments in more recent times. Of course, technology has played its role in making new ways in which they can appear and be used, physically and virtually.
As mentioned, they can appear in different shapes nowadays, while they can also contain more than six sides. Digitally, they can be used in the same way virtually, with games utilizing the roll technique in the very same way, allowing players to enjoy them as and when they want.