Nov 173 min read

Games Across the Centuries

by James Tong Nov 15, 2024

The first ancient Olympic Games may have taken place in Greece nearly three millennia ago, and the Persian Empire may have fallen two millennia ago, but the ancient cultural games people played there have endured the test of time. From board games to sports, many modern leisure activities are the evolutions of ancient games played by ancestors of centuries past. These cultural games continue to influence modern games today.

The ancient Olympics debuted in 776 BC in Olympia, Greece; according to mythology, Greek gods competed in the first games, eventually turning the Olympics into a religious festival in honor of Zeus. Tens of thousands of Greeks watched the Games, where male athletes competed in events including foot races, jumping, wrestling, boxing and discus throwing. This participation was as much about unification of Greeks as it was about showcasing sports. Namely, the tradition of the Olympic Truce allowed safe participation in the ancient Olympic Games for all athletes and spectators, even in times of violence.

The International Olympic Committee decided to revive the concept of the Olympic Truce to use the power of sport to promote peace. The modern Olympics emerged 1503 years after the final recorded ancient Olympic Games with almost entirely different events, venues and on an international scope—yet the legacy of Greek culture continues to shape the spirit of the event.

Despite being a centuries-old game of strategy, chess also continues to be played by people of all ages, over a board or online. Shatranj is an early form of chess, originating from Persia in the 6th century with largely similar rules to modern chess. Some of the common terminology of modern chess arises from Persian roots such as “rukh” to “rook”, meaning chariot, and “shah mat” to “checkmate”, meaning “the king is dead.” Shatranj was common in Persian courts and spread through the Islamic world and Europe, where it evolved into the international version of chess known today, according to the “Libro de los juegos,” a thirteenth-century Spanish manuscript that contained the earliest mention of chess. As the game spread to Europe, it became especially popular among the upper class of Italy, Spain and England.

“While video games integrate computer technology to make it more appealing to players, the ideas of competition and strategy are the main factors that make a game fun. Chess, for example, has no particular visual appeal, yet its limitless possibilities keep the game difficult and enjoyable,” Senior Lin Jiang said.

Another significant cultural game that has endured time for centuries, mancala, represents the core of ancient Egyptian culture. Players move stones, seeds or shells across pits in the game board to capture the opponent’s pieces. This represents agricultural practices in ancient Egypt and East Africa, as piece movement resembles seed sowing and certain pits act as storage. Mancala also plays a role in entertainment, fostering communal interaction through its gameplay during festivals and rituals in many African cultures, per the Savannah African Art Museum. The persistence of the game in modern societies highlights the resilience of cultural practices.

Board games and sports competitions are not the only way games have shown their prominence in ancient to modern society. Marco Polo, often played in swimming pools between friends today, can be traced back to ancient Greece in a game called the Blind Man’s Bluff. A player was blindfolded and had to tag the others using sound and touch—almost identical to Marco Polo. The game was played by both children and adults, from cultures as diverse as Nigeria and England, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica.

“The preservation of ancient games through history demonstrates how culture spreads through the world. The qualities of these games are so important to humans that they often continue to be played, even after cultural mixing from ancient societies to the modern day,” Sophomore Darshan Patel said.

Whether played for competition, strategy or enjoyment, the legacy of these games carries on in our everyday lives. In a world where technology constantly evolves, the timeless natures of these ancient games offer a reminder of the enduring human desire for cultural continuity, serving as bridges between the past and the present and between different peoples and cultures.

About the Contributors

James Tong

Writer

James Tong is a writer for the school journalism. He enjoys collaborating with others and this is his first year in journalism. His hobbies include swimming, biking, hanging out with friends and listening to music.