The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Dice

Period:: Roman Period
Date:: 30 B.C.–A.D. 330
Geography:: Country of Origin Egypt, Middle Egypt, el-Bahnasa (Oxyrhynkhos, Oxyrhynchus)
Medium:: Ivory
Dimensions:: dimehsions: 1 cm square (3/8 in square)
Credit Line:: Gift of Egypt Exploration Fund, 1897
Accession Number:: 97.4.117

This artwork is currently on display in Gallery 138

Description

Gaming was a favorite pastime at banquets and other social occasions. Small boxes were used as throwing cups to prevent manipulation of the dice.
Provenance

Discovered at el-Bahnasa (Oxyrhynchus) during excavations sponsored by the Egypt Exploration Fund. Acquired by the EEF in the division of finds. Donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art by the EEF, 1897.
See also
What
Bone (6,371)

Ivory (5,396)

Game pieces (643)

Dice (45)
Where
Africa (33,578)

Egypt (29,894)

Upper Egypt (13,570)

Oxyrhynchus (126)
When
1000 B.C.-A.D. 1 (23,207)
In the Museum
Egyptian Art (26,256)
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
Egypt, 1000 B.C.–1 A.D.