Egyptian Senet - Gameplay

One of the earliest known board games, Senet was played by Egyptians as early as 3100 BC. The board represents the players journey through the afterlife realm of Osiris.

Dice roles are done with four throwing sticks. On a role, the number of sticks white-side-up represent the number of moves. If all sticks are white-side-down the role counts as a five. If you role a one, four or five than you get a free role after you move your pawns.

You move your pawns in a zig-zag motion across the board, consisting of 30 tiles. If a pawn has an ally pawn on the tile next to them, they are protected. If they do not, they are an isolated pawn. If you land on an isolated pawn, that pawn will be sent to where the moving pawn was located. Because of this it's good to keep your pawns grouped together to avoid being pushed back. If none of your pawns can be moved during a role, you lose that turn.

The final five tiles are the main goal. They are, in this order:

The House of Beauty - The player must land exactly on this spot before continuing toward your destination. If a pawn is isolated, it can be bumped backwards. If you role a 5 you may exit the board, otherwise you may land on one of the 4 houses listed below.

The House of Water - If the player lands on this tile, you are washed away to the House of Rebirth, located on the middle of the board. If that tile is occupied, you go to the first unoccupied tile behind it.

The House of Three Truths - If the player lands here, they must role a 3 to exit the board. If you are bumped by the other player, you're sent to the House of Water, forcing you to the House of Rebirth.

The House of Two Truths - If the player lands here, they must role a 2 to exit the board. If bumped, same as before.

The House of Horus - If the player lands here, they must role a 1 to exit the board. If bumped, ditto.

The first player to exit all of their pawns wins the game.

These rules were based on the notes of historian Timothy Kendall.