Room 4

Skill toys

Some of the most commons skill toys in ancient Greece were yo-yo, spinning top (stromvos), knucklebones (astragaloi), iygga, and different types of ball games. One of the favorites was the knucklebones; they were usually made from animal knuckles or from copper and other materials. It was played mostly by women and children. Knucklebones were a skill game, but they were also used as dices. They were used for playing pentelitha. As pentovola is played today, also in the respective game back then, people used 5 knucklebones.

Girl playing astragaloi (knucklebones)

Rome (Italy), 150 AD, Altes Museum, Berlin

The motif of the seated young girl dates back to a late Hellenistic model, wich in the Roman version was supplemented by the game gesture. The knucklebone game often also depicted on funerary reliefs and the portrait-like features of the girl indicate a sepulchral purpose of the sculpture.

Photogrammetry by Greektoys

Yo-yo

Hellenistic period.

Louvre Museum

3D modeling by Greektoys

Spinning Top

Hellenistic Period. Louvre Museum.

3D modeling by Greektoys

Knucklebones (Astragaloi)

500-475 BC. Louvre Museum.

3D modeling by Greektoys