Origins in Ancient Ur
The Royal Game of Ur was played in the ancient Sumerian city of Ur, located in modern-day Iraq. Game boards have been found in royal tombs, suggesting it was a game of nobility.
Woolley's Discovery
British archaeologist Sir Leonard Woolley excavated the Royal Cemetery of Ur and discovered several game boards, along with dice and game pieces.
Rules Deciphered
Irving Finkel of the British Museum deciphered the rules from a Babylonian clay tablet dating to 177 BCE, finally allowing the game to be played as it was in ancient times.
Digital Revival
You are playing a game that has been enjoyed for over 4,500 years. Welcome to the infinite museum.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXT
THE GAME BOARD
The distinctive H-shaped board has 20 squares arranged in a unique pattern. The five rosette squares (marked with flower patterns) appear to have held special significance, though their exact meaning varied across different periods and regions.
Original boards were crafted from wood, shell, and lapis lazuli - precious materials indicating the game's royal status. The geometric patterns on each square may have had astrological or religious meanings, though this remains speculative.