An Egyptian Game of Strategy Safe

Senet An Egyptian Game of Strategy

Topics: Ancient Egypt, Strategy Games, Critical Thinking, Cultures & Traditions Safe 1 stick up = 1 2 sticks up = 2 Materials List 3 sticks up = 3 4 sticks up = 4 No sticks up = 6  10 playing pieces (5 of 1 type and 5 of Play like an Egyptian! Played by royals and commoners alike, this popular strategy another) game from Ancient Egypt was enjoyed for over 3,000 years! Simple and fun to play!  4 sticks to use as dice Assembly  Game board with 3 Create a board with 3 rows of 10 spaces (some labeled specially) as in image above. rows of 10 spaces & 5 special spaces Playing the Game (for 2 players) marked 1. Goal: The first player to move all his/her pieces off the board wins. 2. Decorated sticks are used as dice. Players take turns throwing the sticks and moving pieces around the board in an “S” pattern according to the rules:  If you roll a 1, 2, or 6, you get to roll again.

 You cannot land on a space occupied by your own piece. This activity can be used  If you land on a space with an opponent’s piece, the pieces switch. However, if to teach: a player has 2 or more pieces in a row, they are “safe” and you cannot switch  Problem Solving and with them. Reasoning (Common  If your opponent has 3 or more pieces in a row, you may not pass the series. Core Math Standards:  If there is a possible move, you must take it. Mathematical Practices  You cannot switch with an opponent’s piece if it is on a “safe” space. Grades 3 - 8)  Pieces landing on the “water” space (3rd row) get bumped back to the indicated  Traditions, culture, & recreation (National space on the second row. Curriculum for Social  You cannot begin to move pieces off the board until all your pieces are moved Studies: Theme 1, beyond the first row. Culture)  Knowledge and The Science Behind the Activity understanding of the Archaeologists have discovered evidence that Ancient Egyptians enjoyed Senet for past (National over 3,000 years, until around 400 a.d. While over 40 Senet game boards have been Curriculum for Social Studies: Theme 2, found, the actual rules have not survived. Through examination of game boards and Time, Continuity, and other artifacts, possible reconstructions of the rules have been created (e.g. – the rules Change) given in this sheet). Given the length of its popularity, this race game, in the same family as Parcheesi and Backgammon, probably had many versions and rules. Evidence suggests that while the game began as mere recreation, it evolved into having religious significance.

Web Resources (Visit www.raft.net/raft-idea?isid=372 for more resources!) An interactive computer version of Senet can be found at: http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/life/activity/act_main.html History - http://www.gamesmuseum.uwaterloo.ca/VirtualExhibits/Ancient/Senet/