The Mystery of the Twelve Markings Meaning “The Game of Twelve Markings” in Latin, Ludus Duodecim Scriptorum was a widely played strategy and chance game throughout the Roman Empire, from military barracks to imperial palaces. Examples etched into the marble floors of the ancient city of Ephesus notably on the steps of the Library of Celsus document the central role of this game in Roman daily life. Featuring a board of three rows with 12 markings each, the game represents a race to move pieces into the home zone using three dice.
The Ancestor of Backgammon
Over centuries, the simplification of its rules and the transition to a two-row format gave rise to the game known as Tabula, the direct predecessor of modern Backgammon. Ludus Duodecim Scriptorum is not merely a pastime; it is a testament etched in stone to the ancient mind’s pursuit of mathematical probability, risk management, and the eternal struggle against fate.
