Fun And Games

Toys And Dolls

Everybody enjoys some R and R and the Ancient Egyptians were no exception.  Numerous tomb paintings and artefacts provide ample evidence that they were not altogether as abstemious and introspective as they are often portrayed.  All Egyptians indulged in a wealth of leisure pursuits, from playing with crafted toys and board games, to healthy outdoor activities, all the while helping to improve their speed, dexterity and skill. 

Crafted toys were evident from the earliest times.  Toy boats, carved from wood, were found in a child’s tomb from the Predynastic period. Baked clay animals and rattles were also discovered from that time.  Animals and figures with moving parts were also popular, and findings include a crocodile with a lower jaw that moved by pulling a string. A toy found at El Lisht featured three ivory figures on a base that danced and spun when then strings were pulled.

Dolls, of varying sophistication, were prevalent in the Middle Kingdom.  Many were made of wood in a paddle-like shape and were painted, and others were more roughly made of clay or rags.  Some had jointed limbs or hair of clay beads strung on twine.   These examples all appear to be children’s toys, but it cannot be ruled out that dolls may also have been used as Ushabti - funereal figurines that would be placed inside the tomb to accompany the deceased into the afterlife.  Mechanical toys with moving parts may have been used in the same way.

Back To The Board

Board games were popular at all levels of Egyptian society although they were mainly played by adults.  Many examples have been found but two of the most popular seem to be Mehen, the game of the snake and Senet, the passing game. 

Mehen originates in the Old Kingdom and more than a dozen boards have been found in 1st Dynasty tombs.  It was played on a one legged table, on the surface of which was a carved or inlaid coiled snake divided into segments. The first pictorial representation of Senet appears in the tomb of the 3rd Dynasty official Hesy’re at Saqqara but boards have been discovered from the beginning of the early Dynastic period. 

Both were originally games of skill and chance with the movements of pieces determined randomly either by the casting of coins, two sided sticks or later knucklebones - perhaps precursors to the game backgammon, which is still popular in Egypt and surrounding countries.

Meaningful Exchanges

But both games also evolved into something quite different, acquiring significant religious and mystical connotations in the ancient world. Mehen became synonymous with the serpent God of the same name and Senet, an allegory of the passage of the souls journey into eternal life.  During the new Kingdom, tomb paintings show Senet players against an invisible opponent and inscriptions refer to the player as deceased.  Perhaps this is the origin of the classic scenario of playing a game of chess with the devil, with the player's eternal soul at stake.

Egyptians of all ages have been depicted engaged in outdoor pursuits. Children appear to have had time for plenty of outdoor fun, although the traditional associations of dancing for girls and football for boys didn't hold true. Girls are seen at Beni Hassan playing ball, whilst riding piggyback. The tomb of Ptahhotep at Saqqara contains pictures of boys playing a variety of physical games. One appears to be a human merry-go-round and shows two children holding the hands of four others who are reclining. It bears the inscription ‘Go round 4 times’.

Wrestling was the chief amusement for young men from the lower classes with many scenes found in 12th Dynasty tomb paintings, exhibiting a variety of throws.  More refined persuits, such as archery and stick fencing, were popular with noblemen. All of these pursuits appear to be fairly amiable; there were no fights to the death or gladiatorial spectacles and few vigorously pursued competitions with coveted prizes.  Although the Egyptians did participate enthusiastically, they seemed merely to wish to invigorate the body with feats of agility and strength. 

All Pray, No Play?

The lack of large organised sporting events or bloodthirsty gladiatorial competitions indicates an emphasis on self-improvement of the body rather than a purely competitive culture. It is possible that games and toys were just an interesting and enjoyable diversion from everyday Egyptian life. The game board pictured above, which was found in the antichamber of King Tut's Tomb, was discovered with the game pieces scattered all around. It seems unlikely that the players had simply forgotten to tidy away their toys. The possible magical nature of some toys and dolls, and the religious connotations that evolved with some games, points to a certain amount of introspection and preoccupation with the afterlife, even in play.

Images by Sandro Vannini. All rights reserved.

Written by Alison Hudson.

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