Ancient Egypt Game Box

Description

Handcrafted art containing the games Senet, Hounds and Jackals, and Mehen, as well as an Egyptian amulet and the rules of the game.

Senet
The oldest specimen found in its entirety dates back to 2620 BC. but it is believed to come from the first dynasty, 3100 B.C. It became a game of some relevance to the Rosicrucians and is mentioned in chapter XVII of the Book of the Dead. It was conceived as a representation of the journey of the Ka (soul force) after death, and the Egyptians often took it with them to the tomb as a guiding map.

Dogs and Jackals
Game at least 4000 years old, it expanded from Ancient Egypt to the Assyrians, Babylonians, Jews and Persians. It would have been a social lubricant between the Ancient East and the Western Bronze Age.

Mehen
Named after the Egyptian Serpent Goddess, it dates back to 3000 B.C. and remained in vogue until 2300 B.C. The game was often painted in funeral illustrations on the opposite side of the Senet. The noble pieces were lions or lionesses (although people played with whatever they could), and the board was a snake coiled around itself. The aim of the pieces is to travel from Mehen’s tail to head, clearing opposing forces on the way back.