Senet is one of the oldest known board games. Fragmentary tablets that could be senets have been found in First Dynasty burials in Egypt (Tomb of Merkner (3300–2700 BC)). The first unequivocal image of this ancient game comes from the tomb of Hesy, Third Dynasty (ca. 2686–2613 BC). People are shown playing the senet in a painting in the tomb of Rashepes, as well as from other tombs of the Fifth and Sixth Dynasties (c. 2500 BC). The oldest intact senate tablets date from the Middle Kingdom, but graffiti on monuments of the Fifth and Sixth Dynasties may date back to the Old Kingdom.
The Senet game board is divided into 30 squares: in three rows of ten squares. On the fields there are symbols, some with good and some with bad connotations, all in accordance with general Egyptian beliefs. Rebirth had a good and water a bad connotation, and so on. The Senet game reminded us of the many obstacles that every person encounters on the way to the afterlife. It was played by all classes of society — from the pharaoh to the poorest classes.
HOW TO PLAY
Be the first to move all your pyramids off the board. When you reach a square already occupied by your opponent, the pyramids exchange their positions. Some fields are safe: the last 5 fields and related fields in the same row.
House of Rebirth, return here when you stop at the House of Water.
House of Happiness, mandatory for all pyramids.
House of Water, restart from House of Rebirth
House of the Three Truths, you only leave this place when you roll a 3
House of Re-Atoum, you only leave this place when you roll a 2