Knucklebones

Sympkyn of the Moor

Number of players: 2+
Type of game: Skill
Period: 1400BC+

Knucklebones is an ancient game of skill and chance, originally played with the ankle bones (astragali) of sheep or goats. It has appeared in cultures across ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, and Central Asia, and is considered an ancestor to dice and modern dexterity games like jacks.

History of Knucklebones

  • Ancient Origins: Dates back at least to 1400 BCE in the Eastern Mediterranean.

  • Name: Derived from the Greek astragaloi, meaning “ankle bones.”

  • Cultures: Played by Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Persians, Chinese, and Indians.

  • Materials: Originally made from actual bones; later carved from metal, ivory, glass, or stone.

  • Depictions: Shown in ancient vase paintings, including images of Aphrodite and Helen of Troy playing.

Traditional Rules of Knucklebones

Basic Equipment

  • Five knucklebones (or similar small objects such as jacks or dice).

  • A flat playing surface.

  • Optional: a sixth “jack” or ball for modern variants.

The Shape of Astragali

  • Astragali have four uneven faces:

    • Two rounded sides (resting positions)

    • Two flat or concave sides (playable faces)

  • In scoring variants, the faces may be numbered 1, 3, 4, and 6.

Gameplay (Dexterity Version)

The Toss and Catch Game (Classical Greek/Roman Style)

  1. Scatter the bones on the ground.

  2. Pick one up and toss it into the air.

  3. While it’s in the air, pick up another bone from the ground and then catch the tossed one before it lands.

  4. Repeat, increasing the number of bones to grab before catching the airborne one (one at a time, two, three, etc.).

  5. Failure to catch or collect ends your turn.

Scoring

  • Usually played in rounds or until all 5 are picked up in increasing challenges.

  • Points may be awarded for:

    • Successful catches

    • Number of bones picked up

    • Specific positions of bones after throws

Gameplay (Scoring Version – Astragalus Dice)

In this version, knucklebones are thrown like dice, and each face has a point value.

Scoring Values (Roman Example)

Face Description Points
1 Concave side A 1
3 Convex side 3
4 Concave side B 4
6 Flat side 6

  • Players roll 4 bones at once.

  • A roll of all four different faces was called the Venus throw – highest score.

  • Rolling all ones was the Dog throw – lowest.

Objective

  • Achieve the best throw possible.

  • In some versions, wagers or turn-based challenges are used.

Victory Conditions

Variant Victory Type
Toss and Catch Complete all rounds without failure
Scoring (Dice) Highest score from a set number of throws
Wager Game Highest total after agreed rounds

Optional and Variant Rules

1. Jacks Variant (Modern/Colonial Style)

  • Uses a small rubber ball and 10 metal jacks.

  • Player bounces the ball and picks up increasing numbers of jacks before catching the ball.

2. Korean Gonggi

  • A five-stone game involving similar toss-and-grab sequences.

  • Includes stages such as “one pick,” “two pick,” and “back of the hand flip.”

3. Indian Gutte/Five Stones

  • Similar stages of toss-and-grab with added flourishes.

  • Often played sitting cross-legged, using small pebbles.

4. Venus Throw Bonus

  • In Roman versions, a “Venus throw” may result in instant victory or double points.

Summary Table

Rule Area Summary
Players 1 or more (competitive or solo practice)
Equipment 5 knucklebones or small objects
Play Style Toss-and-catch OR scoring dice roll
Objective Complete pick-up sequences OR roll highest combination
Victory Based on dexterity or highest total score