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Ancient d20 Emerges from the Ashes of Time Joel Send a noteboard - 07/03/2013 05:23:05 PM

Many centuries before Dungeons & Dragons was even a glimmer in the eye of Gary Gygax, ancient Egyptians were rolling a d20 die.

by Amanda Kooser November 9, 2012 10:00 AM PST

Let's go back in time. Way back. Keep going. OK, stop. You're in the Ptolemaic Period. It's somewhere around 304 to 30 B.C. You're in Egypt. You're playing Dungeons & Dragons. Except back then, it's more like Pyramids & Petsuchos.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art owns what may be the world's oldest d20 die. It's made out of serpentine and looks to be in remarkably good shape for its age.

The die is a little over an inch tall. The symbols carved into the die appear to be of Greek origin, in keeping with it coming from the Ptolemaic Period.

The symbols for eta, theta, and epsilon can be clearly seen. Maybe it was used to determine which frat the ancients were going to pledge, but I'd like to think it was used to roll for hit points for warrior and sphinx classes. Now all we need is for someone to 3D-model this so we can print it out and make up our own ancient Egyptian version of D&D.

I can hardly wait to see the ancient Egyptians Monstrous Compendium.... ;)

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Ancient d20 Emerges from the Ashes of Time Joel - 07/03/2013 05:23:05 PM 1067 Views
That's amazing. Fanatic-Templar - 07/03/2013 06:44:33 PM 796 Views
It is very clearly a die, too, not just some random engraved sculpture. Joel - 07/03/2013 09:53:04 PM 836 Views
Cool. *NM* Bergioyn - 07/03/2013 07:06:43 PM 387 Views
It is rumored Marc Antony preferred playing Bards. Joel - 07/03/2013 10:01:06 PM 879 Views
"Cleo, stay in character!" "I am!" "No you're not, you're your usual slutty self!" *NM* Bergioyn - 07/03/2013 10:37:12 PM 461 Views
"Um, the rest of us are OK with that, Marc. " "Well I'M not; Cleo, put your top back on! " Joel - 08/03/2013 09:46:03 AM 859 Views
I suppose it isn't too surprising, very darn cool though Isaac - 07/03/2013 10:32:37 PM 772 Views
Makes one wonder about the purpose(s) for which the dice were used. Joel - 08/03/2013 10:29:19 AM 795 Views
Re: Makes one wonder about the purpose(s) for which the dice were used. Isaac - 08/03/2013 03:43:57 PM 684 Views
Tom would probably be our best source on symbols; apparently ancient Egypt had THREE numeric sets. Joel - 08/03/2013 06:24:27 PM 848 Views
Tom probably, maybe Ghav Isaac - 08/03/2013 07:29:32 PM 825 Views
Yeah, and maybe more likely to visit the RPGMB. Joel - 08/03/2013 09:59:38 PM 919 Views
The Fortress of Solitude always welcomes guests Isaac - 08/03/2013 10:49:59 PM 799 Views
Like Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers? You expect me to fall for that as easily as General Zod did? Joel - 09/03/2013 11:14:24 PM 902 Views
Never hurts to try Isaac - 10/03/2013 02:40:19 AM 779 Views
Do or do not.... Joel - 11/03/2013 04:31:46 PM 1028 Views
Re: Do or do not.... Isaac - 11/03/2013 08:54:34 PM 771 Views
Re: Do or do not.... Joel - 12/03/2013 02:19:56 AM 1018 Views
Also Tom's remark's on the CMB make it pretty definitely not numerical Isaac - 10/03/2013 04:21:55 AM 784 Views
Hmm... actually, that d20 COULD be a "d200." Joel - 11/03/2013 03:39:52 PM 974 Views
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