Comments on: Dice Players in Antiquity http://menachemmendel.net/blog/2008/06/16/dice-players-in-antiquity/ Sun, 14 Mar 2010 01:24:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Jon Baker http://menachemmendel.net/blog/2008/06/16/dice-players-in-antiquity/comment-page-1/#comment-850 Jon Baker Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:10:16 +0000 http://menachemmendel.net/blog/?p=503#comment-850 S: No, it's a D-20. It has triangular faces; the only regular polyhedra with triangular faces are D-4, D-8, and D-20. S:

No, it’s a D-20. It has triangular faces; the only regular polyhedra with triangular faces are D-4, D-8, and D-20.

]]> By: S. http://menachemmendel.net/blog/2008/06/16/dice-players-in-antiquity/comment-page-1/#comment-846 S. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:36:40 +0000 http://menachemmendel.net/blog/?p=503#comment-846 Since this is a 10 sided die (pictured), one thing is for sure: they played Dungeons & Dragons in the Graeco-Roman world! Since this is a 10 sided die (pictured), one thing is for sure: they played Dungeons & Dragons in the Graeco-Roman world!

]]> By: Menachem Mendel http://menachemmendel.net/blog/2008/06/16/dice-players-in-antiquity/comment-page-1/#comment-845 Menachem Mendel Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:24:51 +0000 http://menachemmendel.net/blog/?p=503#comment-845 I'll try and check J. Schwartz's article in the next few days and see what he says about the etymology. It could be that the above picture was of a different type of die, since <a href="http://www.ancienttouch.com/gaming%20counters%20and%20dice.htm" rel="nofollow">these</a> pictures are of six-sided dice, and see the entry <a href="http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-dgra/1119.html" rel="nofollow">"Tessera"</a> in Smith's <i>Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities</i>. I’ll try and check J. Schwartz’s article in the next few days and see what he says about the etymology. It could be that the above picture was of a different type of die, since these pictures are of six-sided dice, and see the entry “Tessera” in Smith’s Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities.

]]> By: S. http://menachemmendel.net/blog/2008/06/16/dice-players-in-antiquity/comment-page-1/#comment-844 S. Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:08:25 +0000 http://menachemmendel.net/blog/?p=503#comment-844 No, it's probably not wrong. It's probably from Greek kvβos, which meant both a cube and die. Jastrow, incidentally, writes χνβεια. The Aruch doesn't seem to have an entry on it, but perhaps the Aruch Ha-shalem does. No, it’s probably not wrong. It’s probably from Greek kvβos, which meant both a cube and die.

Jastrow, incidentally, writes χνβεια.

The Aruch doesn’t seem to have an entry on it, but perhaps the Aruch Ha-shalem does.

]]> By: Tzvi http://menachemmendel.net/blog/2008/06/16/dice-players-in-antiquity/comment-page-1/#comment-843 Tzvi Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:47:24 +0000 http://menachemmendel.net/blog/?p=503#comment-843 MM, I always understood the word Kubia (as in the mishna "mesachek b'kubia") to be a cube because it sounds similar. Is that wrong? MM,

I always understood the word Kubia (as in the mishna “mesachek b’kubia”) to be a cube because it sounds similar. Is that wrong?

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