Dogs and Jackals, also known as the “Game of 58 Holes,” is one of the oldest known board games, dating back to around 2000 BCE during Egypt's Middle Kingdom (12th Dynasty).
The game's name comes from the decorative pieces shaped like dog and jackal heads that were used to play. These animal heads were mounted on pegs that fit into holes drilled into the board.
The most famous example of this game is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. This board was discovered in 1910 by Herbert E. Winlock in the tomb of Reny-Seneb at Thebes, Egypt.
The board is made of ebony and ivory and features an intricate palm tree design with 58 holes (29 per player). The playing pieces are carved in the form of dog heads and jackal heads, each mounted on ivory pegs.
Archaeological evidence shows that Dogs and Jackals was played across the ancient Near East, not just in Egypt. Boards have been found in:
This wide distribution suggests the game was a popular pastime among ancient civilizations throughout the region.
The distinctive palm tree shape of the board is thought to have symbolic significance. In ancient Egypt, palm trees represented life, victory, and triumph. The race to climb the palm tree and reach the top may have symbolized the journey of life or the path to the afterlife.
Like many ancient games, the exact rules of Dogs and Jackals were not written down and were lost to history. Modern scholars have reconstructed probable rules based on:
While we can't be 100% certain of the original rules, the reconstructed version provides an engaging and historically-informed gaming experience.
Dogs and Jackals represents one of humanity's earliest race games - a genre that remains popular to this day. It shows that the fundamental appeal of racing to a goal, dealing with chance, and making strategic decisions has been part of human culture for at least 4000 years.