Vilauba Roman villa (Camós)

Games dice

Games dice, 1st-2nd centuries AD, made of bone, (Vilauba). Photo by Josep Curto. Vilauba Roman villa. Monastery of Sant Esteve de Banyoles. Banyoles Regional Archaeology Museum (MACB).

 

Games dice, 1st-2nd centuries AD, made of bone, (Vilauba). Photo by Josep Curto. Vilauba Roman villa. Monastery of Sant Esteve de Banyoles. Banyoles Regional Archaeology Museum (MACB).

 

One of the most popular forms of entertainment for the Romans, great gambling enthusiasts, consisted of playing with dice. Some specimens have been found in Vilauba that are not very different from current-day dice; they are pieces made of bone, with a different value on each of the six sides, and the sum total of two opposing sides always totals seven. The piece in the image dates back to the Late Roman Empire (1st-2nd centuries AD) and measures a little less than one centimetre.

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