ticketsMember | Make a donation

Gameboard and Gaming Pieces

New Kingdom
ca. 1550–1295 B.C.
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 117
The blue faience inlays of this game box and the gaming pieces (01.4.1b–h and 01.4.1i–p) were discovered in a tomb at Abydos. This tomb also contained a scarab inscribed with the cartouche of Thutmose III, a papyrus burnisher inscribed with the name and title of the scribe Merymaat, a silver earring, and a painted pot.

Only some of the faience inlays of the original box were preserved. The ancient tiles are now displayed on a box made of modern wood, and the missing tiles have been replaced with modern copies. The side visible in this photograph is laid out for the game of senet, which required 30 squares. The underside would have been laid out for the game of 20 squares which may be seen on another game box in the collection.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Gameboard and Gaming Pieces
  • Period: New Kingdom
  • Dynasty: Dynasty 18
  • Reign: reign of Thutmose III
  • Date: ca. 1550–1295 B.C.
  • Geography: From Egypt, Northern Upper Egypt, Abydos, Cemetery D, Tomb D99, Egypt Exploration Fund excavations
  • Medium: Faience, modern wood
  • Dimensions: Restored box: L. 43 cm (16 15/16 in.); W. 13.5 cm (5 5/16 in.); H. 9 cm (3 9/16 in.)
  • Credit Line: Gift of Egypt Exploration Fund, 1901
  • Object Number: 01.4.1a
  • Curatorial Department: Egyptian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Queen Nefertari Playing Senet, Nina de Garis Davies, Tempera on paper
Queen Nefertari Playing Senet
Nina de Garis Davies
ca. 1279–1213 B.C.
Papyrus burnisher of the Scribe, Merymaat, Ebony
Papyrus burnisher of the Scribe, Merymaat
ca. 1479–1425 B.C.
Seven Spool-Shaped Gaming Pieces, Faience
Seven Spool-Shaped Gaming Pieces
ca. 1550–1295 B.C.
Jar
ca. 1479–1425 B.C.
Scarab Finger Ring
ca. 1479–1425 B.C.

Related Content

Perspectives

Articles, audio, and video from The Met's online magazine.

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.