Small Hounds & Jackals Game Board

The Hounds and Jackals game, also known as the game of 58 holes, dates back to the Middle Kingdom of ancient Egypt, roughly originating between 2000 and 1800 BCE. It was a popular pastime among the elite, consisting of a board with fifty-eight holes and two sets of playing pieces, typically shaped like the heads of hounds and jackals. The objective was to move pieces from the starting point to a finish line, likely using dice or knucklebones to determine movement.

Archaeologists have recovered these boards from various funerary contexts, suggesting they held both recreational and symbolic significance in the afterlife. The design often featured a palm tree motif at the center of the board, reflecting the artistic sensibilities of the era. While the exact rules of play have been lost to time, the widespread distribution of these boards throughout the ancient Near East demonstrates the game’s enduring popularity across diverse cultures and social strata.