Draughts in Ancient Rome.

Otago Witness, Issue 2663, 29 March 1905, Page 62

Draughts in Ancient Rome.

Tn Melmoth's translation of "Pliny's Letifl*/' fixiblished in. 1810^ the following allusion,

to the ancient Roman game of "Latrunctjlorum" is given in a footnote:-^

This game among the Romans seems to have been much of the same nature with modern chess. Their men, which they called Calculi or Latrunculi, were made sometimes of wax and sometimes of glass, and were distinguished by black and white colouis. The invention of it has been carried by some so high as the siege of Troy, but Peter Texeira, m his history of Persia (as quoted by Piti3cus in his Lex. Antiq. Rom.), imagines it to be of Persian origin, "because," says he, '"in all countries where the game is played the names of the xnexi are either the same -with or plainly a coiruption of those given to them in the Persian, language." Allusions to this game are frequent in the classic writers ; but the fullest description of it is contained in the following lines, taken from the little poem addressed to Piso, which is to be found at the end of some editions of Lucan, andi is generally ascribed to that author : — When to relieve the labours of thy mind Thou turn'st from deep research in arts refin'd, Not in soft indolence you waste the hour, But happier genius still exerts its .power ; To mimic war the radiant troops are led, And martial ranks the varied table spread; There sable bands, and here a snow-white train, With doubtful fate of war the fight maintain. But who with thee shall dare dispute the field ? Led by thy hand, what warrior knows ta yield? Or if he falls, he falls with glorious pride, His vanquished foe extended by his side. Unnumbered stratagems thy forces try; Now artful feign, and only feign to fly ; Not? boldly rushes, 'midst the ranks of war, The chief, who view'd the slaught'ring scene from lar. "Thia," bravely c&aring in the arduous toil, Repels the host advancing to the spoil ; While cautious "that" moves dreadful on, and alow, And fraudful meditates the certain blow. What though in guise a slave he seems, in chains Two captives he in durance close detains; But see yon hero, with impetuous haste, Bursts thro' the ranks, and lays the ramparts waste 1 While thus the mighty battle glows around. And prostrate chiefs bestrew the well-fought ground, Full and unbroken, lo! thy squadrons stand, Or scarce one warrior lost of thy command; The captive crowds thy victory proclaim, And foes confess thy undisputed! fame.

It is now, I believe, generally conceded among Latin scholars that the Roman word "Latrunculorum" is best translated "Draughts." The above description applies faithfully xo tho game of draughts as played in Spam, ■where the king can leap all round the board in capturing; but it is scarcely characteristic of the English game. I believe that several forms of the game of draughts were practised by the Romans, and have survived to the present day in different nationalities. — F. Dunne, m Leeds Mercury Supplement.