Have you ever wondered what games ancient Egyptians played? Well, get ready to be amazed by the Senet gaming board found in the tomb of Tutankhamun, a pharaoh from ancient Egypt. This cool discovery tells us a lot about the games they enjoyed back then. Let’s explore some awesome facts about this ancient artifact!
Ancient Egyptian ‘Senet’ is one of the world’s earliest known board games, dating to around 3100 BC. Tutankhamun must have enjoyed a game of senet as four gameboards were found in his tomb, including these two sets, c. 1336-1327 BC. Egyptian Museum, Cairo. 📷 my own#Archaeology pic.twitter.com/y7UtWSECL1
— Alison Fisk (@AlisonFisk) February 7, 2023
A Game that goes years back:
Senet is super ancient, over 2,000 years old! It’s one of the oldest games ever found. Archaeologists suggest that both royals and commoners played the game back in the day.
The Game board sits on four legs, shaped like animal legs. Ebony and Ivory materials were used in making the game board. The game board has been resting in the tomb of King Tutankhamun, in The Valley of the Kings.

The Source: Weebly.com
A Game with a Special Meaning:
Tutankhamun, the young pharaoh used the game to spend his leisure time. The tomb also has art of King Tutankhamun and Nefertari playing the Senet Game board.
An image of Queen Nefertiti playing Senet painted on her tomb walls. Senet was one of the oldest board games in existence (3000 B.C) It was a popular #Egyptian tomb artifact as winning a game in the afterlife would ensure the endurance of ones Ka (life spark). #folklorethursday pic.twitter.com/tcz1r009tR
— Myth Crafts (@MythCrafts) May 17, 2018
Senet was more than just a game to the ancient Egyptians. They thought it represented a person’s journey through the afterlife. When someone passed away, they believed they played Senet against the gods to decide their eternal fate.

The Source: Weebly.com
How to Play Senet:
Although we don’t know all the rules, we’ve figured out some basics. The Game has a board with 30 squares. Players used four-sided throwing sticks to move their game pieces. The goal was to reach the end of the board before the other player. Sounds exciting, right?
Luxury Senet gaming board from the tomb of Tutankhamun, ebony, gold and ivory, c. 1336-1327 BC. The game board is made up of 30 squares laid out in three rows of 10, mounted on a frame with supports in the form of lions’ paws. Egyptian Museum, Cairo. Photos my own.#Archaeology pic.twitter.com/rL1RMCm0EY
— Alison Fisk (@AlisonFisk) September 15, 2022
Conclusion:
The Senet gaming board found in Tutankhamun’s tomb is like a time machine that takes us back to ancient Egypt. It shows us how pharaohs and their friends enjoyed their leisure time. As we unlock the secrets of this ancient game, we discover more about the fascinating world of the ancient Egyptians.