A Remarkable Discovery in Turkey
Archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Hadrianopolis in modern-day Turkey have uncovered two intricately carved bone game pieces, offering new insights into Roman military culture. These small, disk-shaped tokens—each marked with distinct symbols—are believed to have been part of a strategic board game played by Roman soldiers in the fifth century A.D.
The Role of Games in Roman Military Training
The discovery strengthens the theory that Hadrianopolis housed a Roman military unit, as historical records indicate that Roman soldiers often engaged in strategy games such as Ludus Latrunculi and Doudecim Scripta. According to Ersin Çelikbaş, an archaeologist from Karabük University, the presence of these game pieces is further evidence of the city's military significance.
“These games were not just for entertainment,” Çelikbaş explains. “They were also tools for sharpening strategic thinking, much like modern war games.”
Decoding the Symbols
Each of the discovered game pieces is approximately the size of a half-dollar coin and features a unique symbol—one with four arms and the other with eight, both adorned with punctuation marks. Çelikbaş suggests that these markings likely indicated the value or function of each piece within the game, helping players develop their strategies.
Possible Games: Ludus Latrunculi and Doudecim Scripta
Historians believe the tokens may belong to either Ludus Latrunculi—also known as the “Game of Mercenaries”—or Doudecim Scripta.
Ludus Latrunculi, inspired by the Greek game Petteia, was a two-player strategy game where participants attempted to encircle and capture their opponent’s pieces, similar to modern checkers or chess.
Doudecim Scripta resembled backgammon and involved dice rolls and strategic movement.
Both games were popular among Roman soldiers, providing a mental challenge that mirrored real battlefield tactics.
Shedding Light on Hadrianopolis’ Military History
Hadrianopolis is well known for its elaborate mosaics, but this new discovery adds another dimension to the city’s historical narrative. The presence of the game pieces suggests that Roman forces occupied the region from at least the second century A.D. through the fifth century.
“The discovery of these artifacts provides compelling support for the idea that a Roman military headquarters existed in Hadrianopolis for several centuries,” says Çelikbaş.
Future Research and Excavations
Ongoing excavations in Hadrianopolis may uncover even more artifacts that help reconstruct these ancient games in greater detail. Researchers hope that future findings will allow them to fully understand how Ludus Latrunculi and Doudecim Scripta were played, further illuminating the daily lives of Roman soldiers.
As work continues, this discovery serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of strategy games in military culture—an intellectual pursuit that has transcended generations and continues to influence modern gaming and warfare simulations today.
