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What is the Game of Knucklebones?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Knucklebones is an ancient game that was originally played with the bones of the joints from animals such as sheep. The game had a number of variations, and it appears to have arisen in different parts of the world, demonstrating that humans can be extremely innovative, even with minimal supplies. It is still played today, although the gaming pieces are not typically made from bone; a closely related game is jacks, which is traditionally played with metal pieces and a small rubber ball. Some gaming stores stock sets for playing, along with instructions for an assortment of variations on the game.

The game relies on the distinct character of joint bones. Joints are knobbly, rather than smooth, and they have distinctly identifiable sides. When tossed, the bones tend to land on one of four sides, avoiding the curved ends. Essentially, this game could be viewed as an early version of dice, with four possible point values rather than six.

Jacks closely resembles the ancient game of knucklebones.
Jacks closely resembles the ancient game of knucklebones.

To play, people toss the bones on the ground and record their point value. The Romans had a complex scoring system for the game, with the highest score going to a “Venus,” a throw in which four bones were thrown and four different sides were displayed. Other scores were calculated on the basis of the point value of the sides; depending on the situation, the game might be played until someone threw a Venus or until a certain score was reached.

Bones of animals were originally shaped for use in knucklebones.
Bones of animals were originally shaped for use in knucklebones.

Knucklebones could also be played much like jacks, with one bone being tossed and caught in or on the hand, or the player performing a variety of tricks like trying to pick up all the bones on the ground while one was in the air. Some games involved repeating tricks displayed by another player, such as tossing three bones in the air and catching them all on the back of the hand. The process of tossing and catching would have have the added bonus of helping children to develop good hand-eye coordination, a highly useful skill.

Knucklebones was originally played using the bones of animals like sheep.
Knucklebones was originally played using the bones of animals like sheep.

In addition to being played with pieces of literal bone, knucklebones can also be played with gaming pieces made from clay, metal, or horn. The Romans made pieces encrusted with precious stones or engraved with various symbols, much like dice, which appear to be Asian in origin. They knew the game as tali or tala. Other aliases for it include dibs, jackstones, five stones, dibstones, and chuckstones.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a Sports&Hobbies researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a Sports&Hobbies researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Renegade

Haman cast "Pur" to determine when he was going to attempt to annihilate the Jews in the ancient Persian empire. His divination is the source of the ironic naming of the Jewish holiday of Purim. Haman consulted his Pur to decide to build a gallows for the Jewish leader Mordecai whom he hated. What ended up happening was that the Jewish God confounded Haman's own plot and he ended up being hanged on his own gallows. Instead of a massacre of the Jews, the Jews were empowered because of Mordecai's cousin Esther, and they massacred their enemies.

Sarcastically, this Jewish holiday is named in honor of Haman's Pur.

JavaGhoul

@arod2b42

This is true, a lot of our modern games came from pagan practices involving demonic forces and divination. Casting bones is more archaic in Europe, but still widely practiced in animistic religions around the world. Cards, too, came from pagan roots of divination and Tarot. Today, they involve mental power and usually no longer hold the supposed spiritual powers they used to.

arod2b42

Weren't casting bones used to consult gods and determine destiny? I seem to recall seeing them in films involving divination and voodoo.

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    • Jacks closely resembles the ancient game of knucklebones.
      By: johnsroad7
      Jacks closely resembles the ancient game of knucklebones.
    • Bones of animals were originally shaped for use in knucklebones.
      By: Pete
      Bones of animals were originally shaped for use in knucklebones.
    • Knucklebones was originally played using the bones of animals like sheep.
      By: taraki
      Knucklebones was originally played using the bones of animals like sheep.