WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
2 board games were discovered in Tutankhamun’s tomb, located in the annex. The legs of the stand which the game rests upon is of an animal shaped which is connected to sledge runners. The board is separated into 2 individual compartments. The top section of the board where the game takes place is broken up into 30 sections shaped into squares. The opposing section of the board game was divided up into 20 squares. The entire construction is brown in colour and has an engraving running alongside the side centre of board.
WHAT WAS IT MADE OUT OF?
The predominant materials used to construct the games is ebony and ivory. The stand and the sledge are created from ebony. Both the bottom and top parts of the board are covered with ivory. The actual pieces used for the games have been created using black ivory and white ivory.
WHAT WAS IT USED FOR?
The Senet game was used to have leisure time and to enjoy a good game. The game was extremely popular in Ancient Egypt. It was so popular that the rules were not formally written down as everyone already knew how the game worked as it was considered common sense to know how to play Senet.
WHAT DOES IT REPRESENT?
The board game Senet represents the social aspect of Ancient Egypt and possibly how Tutankhamun would’ve spent his leisure time to relax. As Tutankhamun was a very young pharaoh he would’ve spent a considerable amount of time playing games which could’ve included Senet. Since Senet was so popular a majority of the Ancient Egyptians would’ve played this game during the time. It also has a religious aspect to it as it was thought to have been played with forces that were unknown that would decide if the deceased would have a safe afterlife which is shown through many artworks, as a deceased playing Senet against an anonymous opponent.