Hounds and Jackals: Game of the Pharaohs (-2000)

Hounds and Jackals

Hounds and Jackals, also known as 58 holes, is an ancient Egyptian board game that was invented around 2000 BC. It is known from several examples of gaming boards and gaming pieces found in excavations. The game was named “Hounds and Jackals” by Howard Carter because of the decorative shapes of the pegs – one player’s pins were carved in the form of hounds, while the opposite player’s pins were carved as jackals. The game was called 58 Holes by William Mathew Flinders Petrie because the game board features 58 holes (29 for each side). More than 68 gameboards of hounds and jackals have been discovered in the archaeological excavations in various territories, including Syria, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Azerbaijan.

Why is Hounds and Jackals Popular?

The game of Hounds and Jackals was important to Egyptians who lived during the Middle Kingdom (approximately 4,000 years ago). Egyptologists know this because they have found many examples of these game boards at Middle Kingdom archaeological sites. This game is usually found in tombs, which might tell us that the game was not only played because it was fun, but also because it had a symbolic meaning. The game is significant because it provides insight into the leisure activities of ancient Egyptians and their culture.

Game Components of Hounds and Jackals

Gaming board with two sets of 29 holesTen small sticks with either jackal or dog heads

Game Setup of Hounds and Jackals

Each player chooses five dog-headed sticks or five jackal-headed sticks. The game board has two sets of 29 holes, and the goal is to move one’s figure from a starting point on the board to a designated endpoint.

Gameplay Mechanics of Hounds and Jackals

Each side represented a different numerical value. As each player moved, their hound or jackal would be affected by the links between the holes and the hieroglyphs on the game board. The links were either shortcuts or penalties that could send a playing piece forward or backward, just like Chutes and Ladders. Some of the holes are marked with Egyptian writing (hieroglyphs), and it is believed that the holes marked with the sign for good, nefer, were beneficial to the players that landed on them.

Game Objective of Hounds and Jackals

The objective of the game is to move one’s figure from a starting point on the board to a designated endpoint.

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