Cheery Chimp

Knucklebones is one of the oldest known games involving small bones or bone-shaped pieces. The game takes its name from the knucklebones, or astragali, of sheep, goats, and other animals. These small bones have four naturally distinct sides and were used for games and divination in many ancient cultures.

Knucklebones was played in the ancient Mediterranean world, including Greece and Rome. Greek writers referred to the game as astragaloi, while the Romans called the pieces tali. Players could throw the bones into the air and attempt to catch them in different ways. Different throws and combinations of faces could have particular values, making the game partly a test of skill and partly a game of chance.

The game was not limited to adults. Ancient artwork and literary sources depict children and adults playing with knucklebones. The pieces were inexpensive and readily available, although more elaborate sets made from bone, ivory, bronze, or other materials have also been discovered.

Knucklebones also had a close relationship with ancient forms of divination. Because the bones landed in apparently unpredictable combinations, particular throws could be interpreted as omens. In other contexts, however, they were simply used for recreational games requiring dexterity and coordination.

Over the centuries, games using astragali spread and evolved into related forms played in different parts of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. In some traditions, the object was to toss and catch the pieces in increasingly difficult sequences. In others, players used the bones much like dice, assigning different values to their four sides.

Modern versions of Knucklebones are generally based on the tossing-and-catching tradition. Players may use actual knucklebones, specially manufactured pieces, or substitute objects such as small metal or plastic pieces. The game is an example of how a very simple piece of equipment can support a tradition of play stretching back thousands of years.