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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 1033 Views
That's amazing. Fanatic-Templar - 07/03/2013 06:44:33 PM 766 Views
It is very clearly a die, too, not just some random engraved sculpture. Joel - 07/03/2013 09:53:04 PM 811 Views
Cool. *NM* Bergioyn - 07/03/2013 07:06:43 PM 374 Views
It is rumored Marc Antony preferred playing Bards. Joel - 07/03/2013 10:01:06 PM 847 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 453 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 820 Views
I suppose it isn't too surprising, very darn cool though Isaac - 07/03/2013 10:32:37 PM 742 Views
Makes one wonder about the purpose(s) for which the dice were used. Joel - 08/03/2013 10:29:19 AM 762 Views
Re: Makes one wonder about the purpose(s) for which the dice were used. Isaac - 08/03/2013 03:43:57 PM 641 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 814 Views
Tom probably, maybe Ghav Isaac - 08/03/2013 07:29:32 PM 798 Views
Yeah, and maybe more likely to visit the RPGMB. Joel - 08/03/2013 09:59:38 PM 881 Views
The Fortress of Solitude always welcomes guests Isaac - 08/03/2013 10:49:59 PM 766 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 868 Views
Never hurts to try Isaac - 10/03/2013 02:40:19 AM 744 Views
Do or do not.... Joel - 11/03/2013 04:31:46 PM 1003 Views
Re: Do or do not.... Isaac - 11/03/2013 08:54:34 PM 743 Views
Re: Do or do not.... Joel - 12/03/2013 02:19:56 AM 982 Views
Also Tom's remark's on the CMB make it pretty definitely not numerical Isaac - 10/03/2013 04:21:55 AM 749 Views
Hmm... actually, that d20 COULD be a "d200." Joel - 11/03/2013 03:39:52 PM 939 Views
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