Earliest Evidence
The oldest known Senet boards appear in Predynastic Egyptian tombs, making it one of the oldest board games in history.
Tutankhamun's Tomb
Four complete Senet sets discovered in King Tut's tomb, including an exquisite ebony and ivory board, demonstrating the game's royal importance.
Religious Transformation
Senet evolves from a secular pastime to a religious ritual symbolizing the soul's journey through the underworld to the afterlife.
Digital Recreation
Modern reconstructions bring Senet back to life, allowing players worldwide to experience this ancient game of passage.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXT
THE GAME BOARD
The Senet board consists of 30 squares arranged in three rows of ten. The distinctive S-shaped path represents the journey of the soul through the Egyptian underworld. Special squares in the final row hold profound religious significance, representing trials the deceased must overcome.
Boards ranged from simple scratched limestone to elaborate works of art crafted from ebony, ivory, and gold. Many boards were dual-purpose, featuring Senet on one side and the game of Twenty Squares on the reverse. The game's presence in tombs of all social classes demonstrates its universal importance in Egyptian culture.