The Games Odysseus Would Have Played: Ancient Greek Board Games for the Modern Adventurer
Inspired by the epic world of The Odyssey
Play Was Sacred in Ancient Greece
Long before smartphones, streaming, or even printed books, the ancient Greeks played games. And they took it seriously. Gaming wasn't just leisure — it was tied to military training, religious festivals, and philosophical debate. Plato wrote about board games. Homer referenced them. Archaeologists have unearthed game boards in temples, tombs, and soldiers' camps across the ancient world.
When Odysseus spent ten years trying to get home from Troy, his men weren't just rowing and fighting. They were gambling, strategizing, and playing. Games were how ancient Greeks passed time, settled disputes, trained their minds, and honored the gods.
With The Odyssey back in the cultural spotlight, we thought it was the perfect moment to explore the real games of ancient Greece — how they were played, where they came from, and which modern games from our collection carry on that same spirit.
1. Petteia — The Greek Game of Tactics
Origin & History
Petteia (πεττεία) is one of the oldest known strategy games in the Western world, with references dating back to at least the 5th century BCE. Both Plato (Republic, Laws) and Aristotle mentioned it. The name comes from pessoi — the stone or clay pieces used to play. It was considered a game of pure intellect, associated with philosophers and military strategists.
How It Was Played
Petteia was played on a lined grid (similar to a chess or checkers board) by two players. Each player had a set of identical pieces. The goal was to capture your opponent's pieces by surrounding them on two sides — a technique called "custodian capture." There was no dice; every move was deliberate. It rewarded patience, foresight, and tactical thinking — exactly the qualities Odysseus was famous for.
🎯 Shop it: Modern Minimalist Chess Board Game – Blue & White
Chess evolved from the same ancient tradition of grid-based capture strategy. Clean lines, bold contrast — the kind of board Athena herself might approve of.
2. Kubeia — Dice Games of Fate
Origin & History
Kubeia (κυβεία) refers broadly to dice gaming in ancient Greece, and it was everywhere. The Greek word kubos (cube) is the root of our modern word "cube." Dice made from bone, ivory, and clay have been found at Greek archaeological sites dating back to 3000 BCE. Soldiers played between battles. Sailors played on long voyages. Even the gods were said to play dice with human fate — a metaphor that ran deep in Greek culture.
How It Was Played
Greek dice games varied widely. The most common involved rolling multiple dice and scoring based on combinations — similar to modern Yahtzee or Farkle. High rolls had names: the best roll was called the "Aphrodite throw" (all sixes), while the worst was the "dog throw" (all ones). Stakes could be high — money, possessions, even freedom in some accounts.
🎲 Shop it: Mini Multi Game Night Board Game Travel Set (Checkers, Dice, Dominoes, Cards)
Dice, cards, dominoes — all the tools of fate in one compact set. Perfect for a long voyage home.
3. Pessoi — Stones and Strategy
Origin & History
Pessoi (πεσσοί) were the stone or clay pieces used in petteia, but the word also refers to a simpler, earlier class of stone-moving games played on marked surfaces. These were the folk games of ancient Greece — no fancy boards required, just scratched lines in dirt or stone and a handful of pebbles. Evidence of these games has been found carved into the steps of the Parthenon and other public spaces, suggesting they were played casually by ordinary people everywhere.
How It Was Played
The simplest pessoi games involved moving stones along a track or grid to reach a goal, block an opponent, or form a pattern. Rules varied by region and era. Think of it as the ancient Greek equivalent of tic-tac-toe or Nine Men's Morris — quick, accessible, and endlessly replayable.
♟️ Shop it: Nine Men's Morris, Classic – Modern Coffee Table Games
One of the oldest strategy games in the world, with roots stretching back to ancient stone-and-board games. Beautifully reimagined for the modern table.
4. Knucklebones (Astragaloi) — The Original Tabletop Game
Origin & History
Astragaloi (ἀστράγαλοι) — knucklebones — may be the most universally beloved game of the ancient world. Played across Greece, Rome, Egypt, and the Near East, it used the small ankle bones of sheep or goats as dice. Each bone had four distinct sides with different values (1, 3, 4, 6). Sets of astragaloi have been found in children's graves, soldiers' camps, and temple offerings. Ancient Greek vase paintings frequently depict people — gods and mortals alike — playing knucklebones.
How It Was Played
There were two main versions. In the dice version, players rolled four bones and scored based on the combination — the best roll (one of each value) was called the "Aphrodite throw." In the jacks version, players tossed bones into the air and caught them on the back of the hand — a direct ancestor of the children's game of jacks still played today. Both versions rewarded quick reflexes and a little luck.
🪨 Shop it: Modern Mancala Mango Wood Board Game Set with Colorful Glass Beads
Mancala shares ancient roots with counting-stone games across the ancient world. The glass beads are a beautiful modern stand-in for those original knucklebones.
5. Tabula — The Ancestor of Backgammon
Origin & History
Tabula (from the Latin for "board") was the Greco-Roman race game that directly evolved into modern backgammon. It was played widely across the ancient Mediterranean world from at least the 1st century CE, with roots in even older Greek and Near Eastern race games. Emperor Claudius was famously obsessed with it. A complete set of rules for tabula was recorded by the Byzantine Emperor Zeno in the 5th century CE — making it one of the best-documented ancient games we know of.
How It Was Played
Tabula was played on a board of 24 points (just like modern backgammon) by two players, each with 15 pieces. Three dice were rolled each turn. All pieces started off the board and entered from the same point, racing around the track to bear off first. Unlike modern backgammon, all 30 pieces started outside the board, making the opening moves a fascinating scramble for position. Hitting an opponent's lone piece sent it back to start.
🏛️ Shop it: Modern Minimalist Backgammon Board Game – Red, White & Blue
The most historically direct connection to ancient Greek gaming. Thousands of years of history behind every roll, wrapped in a bold modern design.
Bring the Ancient World to Your Table
The Greeks understood something we still know today: a great game brings people together, sharpens the mind, and makes even the longest journey feel worthwhile. Whether you're hosting an Odyssey-themed game night, looking for a thoughtful gift, or just hunting for your next strategic obsession — the spirit of ancient play is alive and well.
Love Ancient Games? Keep Exploring
If this journey through ancient Greek gaming has you curious about the even deeper history of tabletop play, don't miss our blog post: What are the Oldest Board Games in the World? — where we explore legendary games like Senet (ancient Egypt), the Royal Game of Ur (Mesopotamia), and more.
And if you're drawn to games with ancient roots, here are a few from our collection worth exploring:
- Nine Men's Morris — one of the oldest continuously played strategy games in history
- Modern Minimalist Chess — descended from ancient strategy traditions spanning thousands of years
- Colorful Backgammon Set — a direct descendant of tabula and the Royal Game of Ur
- Mancala — one of the oldest known counting games, with origins in ancient Africa and the Middle East