Ever wondered about the history of dice and how you got the ones you have in your hands?
In recent times, board games and tabletop games have had a massive boost in popularity. This led to an increase in their market value to an expected amount of $8.12 billion by 2021. Part of the reason why it has become popular is the rise of shows like Critical Role.
With this leap in popularity, chances are that you’ve seen people around you play or that you’ve played a few games yourself. Regardless of whether you play tabletop or board games, one thing is constant: dice.
These game pieces are what you’ll hear hitting the surface in every gaming session in any place, be it a house, bar, or even certain restaurants.
How did these plastic pieces come to be, though? Read what we have below to find out about the interesting history of dice.
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Who Invented Dice?
It’s not clear who were the first people to ever use dice. Some experts believe that the first people to throw dice were the Greeks – Sophocles, to be exact. It’s said that he invented and used dice during the siege of Troy.
They believed that Sophocles invented the dice as a way to keep soldiers entertained. Sieges were a long and grueling ordeal, so Sophocles came up with a game by throwing down pieces of ivory. This proved effective as it drew in more people to enjoy, raising the morale of their army.
The idea of dice rolling came well before Sophocles’ time, though. Shamans and soothsayers were the first ones to roll things to determine the outcome of an event. However, they didn’t use dice, but animal bones and dried up fruits.
They used these items as a form of magical focus to sway the influence of people in their time. This worked to a great degree because people back then worshipped them as diviners.
Because the idea of dice rolling started off like that, it’s hard to determine who were first to throw dice. One thing is certain, though. The first people to carve down something to the shape of a modern six-sided dice were the Mesopotamians.
They discovered that equalized carvings on a dice made it more balanced when it rolled. Their discovery shaped the outcome of modern dice.
When Were Dice Invented?
The answer to this question depends on which type of dice you’re talking about. There are many types of dice, each with a different number of sides. The ones that the Mesopotamians discovered, dice with six sides, are around 7,000 years old.
Another variation of dice, a four-sided one, appeared in southern Mesopotamia. This dice was pyramid-like in shape and was smaller than the traditional six-sided dice. It was also the first kind of dice people used for playing games with.
They used this kind of dice to play the game “Royal Game of Ur”, a popular game in their region. It was like an earlier version of backgammon. This game and the dice it used were both dated at around 3,000 BC.
Meanwhile, in Rome, a 20-sided variation of dice appeared. They used it as an instrument of gambling. They often called out to their goddess of luck while rolling it.
This version of dice appeared around 27 BC when gambling was still illegal in their city. These dice often had roman numerals engraved on each of their sides. This determined how high or how low their roles were.
You don’t often see these kinds of numbered dice as the more popular ones are those with dots. These were first used by the Mesopotamians. They were also the ones who made and first used the pattern of which the six-sided dice follows.
What Are Dice Made of?
Centuries ago, people made dice out of anything they could get their hands on. Shamans and fortune tellers often had a surplus of animal bones, so they used those in making their own set.
In later years, Romans and Greeks used to mix bones together with ivory to craft their dice. These proved to break and wither with ease after some uses. So, they transitioned to using harder materials.
They first tried to use porcelain. This lasted longer, but it was also fragile. It also needed special conditions to maintain its integrity.
They then settled for minerals they found around them. Things like onyx and marble became popular materials because of their attractive appearance and sturdy exterior.
Today, manufacturers make dice out of polymethyl methacrylate. They use this specific material because it fits the criteria needed to mass produce dice.
Dice made from polymethyl methacrylate come out colorless, transparent, and strong.
There are also versions made out of metal. These are special kinds of dice that will last the longest. They also don’t need a lot of maintenance; they only require basic treatment if they get wet to prevent them from rusting.
How Dice Influenced the Gaming World
The main influence of dice in the world of gaming is randomness. Dice bring that element well because no one can predict the outcome unless they’re using loaded dice. People from back then knew this, so they used dice in games of chance.
Gambling became the first and only use for dice for a while. It was later adopted by the tabletop gaming scene because the randomness it brought gave players a fair and interesting way to structure their games.
Other games adopted dice into their game mechanics later on. Check out this blog to find out what they are.
Learn about the History of Dice Today
Know about the most essential gaming piece in history today. This short history of dice should give you a better understanding of how gaming came to be.
Not interested in games involving dice? Then watching movies may be the better choice for you. Learn how you can watch good movies and avoid bad ones here!