Object Highlight: Backgammon
- London Town
- Jun 15, 2020
- 2 min read
Researched and written by Rachel Rabinowitz, Collections Manager and Visitor Services Coordinator, Claire Goode, Living History Specialist, and Teresa Marcus, Community Engagement Coordinator
Let's talk about our backgammon set in this object highlight video. Who knew backgammon could be so dangerous? Watch the whole series.
Backgammon with dice (2008.02) Gift of Judy Van Lunen.
Backgammon is an ancient board game, which can be traced back to Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq) nearly 5,000 years ago.
Backgammon means “back play”, the Middle English word “gammon” means play. The name refers to players ability to go forward or back as the game progresses. It uses dice, pieces, and a game board.
In 1743, Edmond Hoyle produced a treatise on the rules and regulations of the game.
Backgammon is a two-player game where the winning goal is for one of the players to collect all pieces onto their home board and then are the first to “bear” the pieces all off. Still played today, backgammon originated in what is now Iraq and made popular by the ancient Romans and bears many similarities to parcheesi.
The set is made of wood, with the points and other decorative elements inlaid into the wood.
Much like many of the games popular in the 18th century, the outcome was often bet upon. Backgammon is notoriously synonymous with games that drew gamblers, or ‘gamesters’, with its promise of many a coin to be won. With coin, however, comes those who will lie, steal, and cheat for it resulting in violent feuds and tavern brawls like the one depicted in Jan Steen’s appropriately tilted Argument Over a Card Game where a backgammon board can be seen lying open on the ground.
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Really enjoyed reading this post — the way you connected the history of backgammon with its cultural roots was both engaging and easy to follow. It’s fascinating how games like this carry stories across generations. I recently came across a similar discussion on a review-style history blog, and it added https://thegamecaps.com/ another layer of appreciation to the topic. Thanks for sharing such a thoughtful piece.
Really enjoyed reading this post — the way you explored the history and cultural significance of backgammon was both engaging and easy to follow. It reminded me of a thoughtful discussion I recently came across https://www.aerospectny.com/ on a review blog that looked at how traditional games continue to bring people together across generations.
Loved this post — the historical context you provided for backgammon really brought the game’s rich legacy to life. I never realized how far back it goes! I came across a phonydiploma blog https://www.phonydiploma.com/ that also explored historical games in a fun, informative way.
What a lovely and informative article — the history of Dr. Ackerman’s camellias is presented with such care and warmth. I enjoyed learning how these winter blooms continue to brighten the South River landscape. It brought to mind an article https://trgsupply.com/ that also emphasized preserving natural legacies. Truly appreciate this beautiful piece.
The backgammon history piece from Historic Londontown & Gardens offers an enlightening look at a classic game’s roots and cultural journey. Inspereza https://www.inspereza.com/ enjoys content that connects tradition with meaning games like backgammon remind us how shared pastimes build community across generations.