Archaeologists found two game pieces believed to have been used by Roman soldiers more than 1,600 years ago. The discovery reinforces the theory that Hadrianopolis was not only a cultural center but also a strategic military enclave of the Roman Empire, according to GEO France.
The excavation team, led by Dr. Ersin Çelikbaş, found the lens-shaped pieces adorned with unique engravings—a four-armed symbol on one and an eight-armed sign on the other. "These engraved symbols probably helped the player determine the strategy of their pieces," Çelikbaş explained. The markings suggest that the pieces were used in games that entertained soldiers while also serving as tools for military training.
Çelikbaş stated that the game pieces were most likely used for Duodecim Scripta, which is similar to backgammon, or for Ludus Latrunculi, where players try to surround and capture their opponent's pieces. "These small findings show us that the military presence maintained its existence in Hadrianopolis for many years," he said, as reported by IFLScience. The pieces indicate that the military unit stationed in Hadrianopolis may have been active for approximately 200 or 300 years.
The discovery sheds light on the role of strategic games in the Roman military. Ludus Latrunculi, also known as the Game of Mercenaries, was a two-player strategy game in Roman culture. According to Smithsonian Magazine, players would attempt to surround their opponent's pieces with their own until one side's pieces were all captured. This game was favored by military personnel because it simulated combat tactics and enhanced the ability to anticipate enemy movements.
"Although the names of these games have changed from ancient times to the present, all of them are actually based on military strategy," Çelikbaş noted. "Checkers played today—this is also a strategy game... Battleships is also a strategy game. When we look at digital games, it is possible to say that today's Minesweeper is again a military strategy game," he added, according to IFLScience.
Hadrianopolis, named in honor of Emperor Hadrian who expanded the Anatolian settlement during his reign between 117 and 138 CE, has proven to be a trove of antiques. According to GEO France, the site, located in the Eskipazar district of northern Turkey, includes baths, churches, tombs, castles, a fountain, villas, archways, and monuments. Its strategic position near trade routes connecting the interior of Anatolia to the Black Sea made Hadrianopolis a center of regional trade during the Roman and Byzantine periods.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.