Greek History Community

How did Hellenists gamble, divine or play with these rare ancient bones found in Israel?

1 - 10 of 10 Posts
Hash

Hash

Well-known member
I see it's been a while since you've posted, but I just want to ask—do we know if these astragali were used more for games like knucklebones or more for divination? I've read they were often marked with symbols, which makes me wonder if people trusted them to guide decisions, kind of like how we flip coins today. Anyone come across examples from other Hellenistic sites?
 
I actually saw something similar on a doc once—people used knucklebones like dice, kinda like how we use them in board games now. It’s wild thinking about how gambling or even fortune-telling had such physical tools. I looked into recently while trying to figure out which modern platforms are safe to use for stuff like that, and it helped me avoid some sketchy sites pretending to offer legit services.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I see it’s been a while since you’ve posted, but I just want to ask—has anyone come across similar artifacts tied to Greek rituals outside of Israel? I’ve read about knucklebones turning up in Italy and Egypt too. Wondering if anyone’s compared how they were used across regions—were they more for games, divination, or something else entirely depending on location?
 
Could’ve been a mix of gambling and some form of fortune telling—people have been finding ways to make a game out of chance for thousands of years. I’ve read about ancient dice games that weren’t far off from what we do today. Makes me think of the light betting I do on https://www.beaufortpirateinvasion.com/ , just with a modern twist instead of carved bones.
 
I see it's been a while since this thread was active, but I just want to ask—has anyone come across any more recent findings or studies about how these knucklebones were used? I'm curious whether they were more for everyday fun, like a game, or had a sacred, divinatory purpose. It feels like the line between gambling and rituals could have been blurry in ancient times.
 
I’ve seen similar bone dice in museums, and it’s wild to think they were used for both games and maybe fortune-telling. Ancient gambling hasn’t changed much—just the tools have. These days, I’ve found sites like non-ukcasinos.org helpful for comparing options for places that don’t fall under UK restrictions. Makes me wonder how ancient games evolved into what we consider modern betting.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I saw something similar recently on a documentary, they used knucklebones like dice, either for games or even divination. It's wild how something that looks random ends up having deeper meaning.

I was searching for accessories to match that kind of old-school vibe for a costume and ended up finding some cool pieces on armadiofashion.com that had that ancient, timeless look. Definitely worth browsing if you're into that aesthetic.
 
Last edited:
Hellenistic astragali are fascinating because they seem to serve dual purposes. Evidence from various sites suggests they were used both as gaming pieces, similar to knucklebones or dice, and for divination, with symbols possibly guiding decisions or predicting outcomes. It’s interesting to see how a single object could blend entertainment and ritual in daily life. Have any other examples been found showing clear symbolic markings?
 
I find it fascinating how these bones served dual purposes for games and divination. It makes me think of modern betting platforms that blend entertainment with strategy. I regularly use go-to the website for online sabong, and the secure transactions and live streams work well for me.
 
1 - 10 of 10 Posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION AND READ OTHER GREEK INFO:

Period of Greek History You Find the Most Fascinating?

One of the things I love most about visiting Greece is how layered the history feels. You can be standing in one place and realize people have been living there for thousands of years across completely different eras.

So far, I’ve been especially drawn to Minoan history, places like Knossos really stayed with me, and also sites connected to the New Testament. Visiting locations tied to early Christianity adds a whole different dimension to travel for me.

Lately I’ve been thinking about planning future trips around specific historical periods, but Greece has so many that it’s hard to know where to focus next. Ancient classical sites, Byzantine monasteries, Ottoman-era towns, Venetian fortresses, it’s almost overwhelming in a good way.

I’d love to hear what periods of Greek history you personally find most fascinating, and why. Are there particular places that really brought that era to life for you? I’m looking for inspiration for future exploring.

Greek life under Roman rule?

I’ve been reading more about Greek history lately, especially periods that don’t get as much everyday attention, and I keep coming back to Greek life under Roman Empire rule.

I know the broad timeline, Greece absorbed into the Roman world, cities continuing to function, Greek culture influencing Rome as much as the other way around — but I’m really curious about the lived experience. What did daily life actually feel like for ordinary Greeks during this period? How much continuity was there with earlier Hellenistic life, and where did Roman administration, law, or customs really change things?

I love history most when I can picture it: streets, homes, education, food, language, religion. Were people aware they were living in a “Roman” era, or did it feel like Greek life with a new layer on top?

If anyone has thoughts, favorite books, articles, documentaries, or even museum resources, I’d love recommendations.

Learning About Ancient Corinth

I’m hoping to visit the ruins of Ancient Corinth on a future trip to Greece, and I’d like to learn more about the history before I go. I always find that I appreciate archaeological sites more when I understand what I’m looking at and know some of the stories behind the ruins.

For those who have visited Ancient Corinth, what would you recommend learning about beforehand? Are there particular periods of the city’s history, important events, or historical figures that help put the site into context? I know Corinth had an important location and a long history, but I’d like to understand more about how the city developed and changed over time.

I’d also love recommendations for books, documentaries, podcasts, or other resources that give a good introduction to Ancient Corinth. What helped you understand the site and its history before or after your visit?

How Democratic Was Athenian Democracy?

I’ve been studying the democracy of Athens lately, and I find it fascinating that such an influential system didn’t actually last very long in its original form. It’s often described as the birthplace of democracy, and yet when you look closely, it seems both groundbreaking and limited at the same time.

On the one hand, the idea of citizens participating directly in decision-making was radical. On the other hand, citizenship excluded women, enslaved people, and foreigners, which dramatically narrowed who had a voice. It makes me wonder how “democratic” it really was by its own standards, let alone ours.

I’m also curious how stable it truly felt at the time, given the political upheavals and eventual decline.

For those who’ve studied this period more deeply, how do you interpret Athenian democracy? Do you see it as a bold experiment that laid the groundwork for modern systems, or as something far more fragile and constrained?

What was life like under Roman Greece?

I’ve been going down a bit of a Greek history rabbit hole lately, and I realized I don’t know much about what everyday life was like when Greece was under Roman rule.

We always hear so much about classical Greece and then later Byzantine history, but that Roman period feels a little less talked about, at least in detail.

I’m curious how much actually changed for people living there at the time. Did daily life feel very different from earlier Greek periods, or did a lot of traditions and culture continue as usual? And how did Greeks view Roman authority, was it accepted, resisted, or somewhere in between?

If anyone has insights, favorite sources, or even small details about daily life, I’d love to hear them.
Share and discuss Greek history!

WorldwideGreeks.com is a free online forum community where people can discuss Greek food, travel, traditions, history and mythology.
Join Worldwide Greeks here!

JOIN COMMUNITY FOR FREE

LOGIN TO YOUR ACCOUNT
Back
Top