Chalk Games Inspired by The Ancient Romans

Discover games the Roman legionnaires played whilst in Britain

July 2024 | 5 min read

History | Official Blog for Hands-On Education

Teddy and Harry playing Terni Lapilli using sticks and leaves as counters.

What is known about the games played by the Roman soldiers?

Between 43CE and 410CE the Roman Empire occupied Britain. Roman solider's could be found throughout the land. But they were not always fighting off the barbaric Brits! Archaeologists have found evidence of games played by Roman legionaries and Roman families in Britain during this time period.

Archaeologist have discovered grids scratched into stone floors, stone boards and stone playing pieces. Games were mentioned in some poetry at the time as well as letters and personal correspondence that is still preserved. Sadly, one key component of many of the various games are missing: the rules! Historians and archaeologists have pieced together clues as to how these different games were widely believed to be played.

Today I would like to share three of the most commonly found games to have been played in Roman Britain. Latrunculi (resembles chess or draughts), Terni Lapilli (similar to tic-tac-toe) and Calculi (like connect four). All of these Roman games can be played outdoors by drawing a grid with some chalk and finding sticks or coloured stones to use for pieces.

Roman Games Set-up

Children can start playing any one of these traditional Roman games almost anywhere. If you are indoors drawing a suitable grid on plain paper will make the board. If you are out in nature then take along some chalk to draw the different game boards, or even use a stone to make the outline on pavement.Latrunculi, Terni Lapilli and Calculi all use counters and are all two player games. Look at the materials around you and think about how you can get creative in what can be used as a counter. Here are some ideas that might work for you:

Latrunculi, Terni Lapilli and Calculi all use counters and are all two player games. Look at the materials around you and think about how you can get creative in what can be used as a counter. Here are some ideas that might work for you:

Different coloured stones
Sticks
Different shaped leaves

If you are at home on a rainy day, you can always make your own counters using clay. This allows for a great amount of creativity as the pieces can be painted once dried and don’t need to all be the same exact shape.

A modern day Latrunculi board

How to play Latrunculi

Ancient Roman solders in Britain and throughout the Roman Empire loved playing this two-player strategy board game. It was very popular and widespread, much as its chess is today. Latrunculi is considered a game of military tactics and the name comes from the Latin word "latrunculus," meaning "little soldier" or "mercenary."

If we go back even further in history Latrunculi is believed to be a variant of earlier Greek games like Petteia, Pessoí, and Poleis. Now, enough of history, let’s get playing!

Game Components

Board: Rectangular grid, with sizes varying from 7x8, 8x8, 9x10, to 12x8 squares.
Pieces: Two sets of differently coloured pieces or sets of stones, leaves, twigs.
Special piece: Some versions included a piece called Rex (King), Dux (Duke), or Aquila (Eagle). This piece should be obviously different to the other pieces.

Gameplay

While the exact rules are lost to history, reconstructions based on archaeological evidence and literary references suggest:

Players take turns placing their pieces on the board.
Pieces move horizontally or vertically any number of spaces.
Capture occurs by surrounding an opponent's piece on two opposite sides.
The special piece (Rex/Dux/Aquila) cannot be captured but can be immobilized.
The goal is to capture or immobilize the opponent's pieces.

Latrunculi is considered to have been a popular game for several centuries. It’s mentioned as early as the first century BCE and was found throughout Europe. Many European strategy games may have been influenced by this ancient Roman game.

Playing Terni Lapilli

Let’s take a look at playing Terni Lapilli

Terni Lapilli boards have been found carved into floors, walls, and public spaces throughout the Roman Empire. The name literally means “three pebbles” in Latin, which can’t be a coincidence given the game requires three pebbles or counters. Terni Lapilli was also sometimes known as Rota - meaning "wheel" in Latin – as it’s played on a round board. This simple strategic boardgame offers a glimpse into the leisure activities of the ancient Roman soldiers in Britain and throughout the empire.

Game Setup and Rules

Terni Lapilli is played on a square 2X2 grid. The piece follows the lines of the grid, moving around the outside as well as the centre. The circular version Rota, is drawn on a wheel shape.
It's a two-player game, with each player having 3 game pieces of their own colour. These can be different coloured rocks or clay counters that your child has made.
Players take turns placing their pieces on the board, aiming to get three in a row. However, at the beginning they cannot place all three rocks in a row.

Gameplay

The board starts empty. Player’s alternate placing their pieces on any free space. Counters cannot jump over other counters but must move along the lines into unoccupied spaces.
Once all 6 pieces are on the board, players take turns moving one of their pieces to an adjacent empty space along the lines of the board.
Players can move around the circle or into/out of the centre, but cannot jump over pieces.
The player who gets all three of their counters in a line, either diagonally, horizontally or vertically, wins the game.

Playing Calculi using different coloured rocks.

Time to play Calculi

The ancient Roman strategy game Calculi was largely played on a stone board however, the grid has also been found scratched into stone floors throughout the Roman empire. It is often compared to modern day connect four, while some people refer to it as “Roman Checkers” or “Five in a Row”.

Game Overview

Played on a rectangular grid board, typically 8x8 or larger (8x12 is actually recommended). You can use chalk to make this or even mark it out in sand.
Each player will need 8 counters. Collect coloured rocks or use clay to make your own counters.

Gameplay

Players take turns placing one piece on an empty square.
The goal is to be the first to form a line of five pieces in a row - horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
Once all the counters are on the board, players can move counters and place them in empty spaces.
To win the game a player must line five counters diagonally in a row. If the board becomes filled with no winner, the game is a draw.

The ancient Roman Empire occupied Great Britain and various parts of this island for nearly four hundred years. During this time all aspects of pre-Roman life would have changed and evolved, including the games played. I hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about Calculi, Latrunculi and Terni Lapilli. Please check out our Roman and general history topics for great kid’s activities and games.

When the sun next comes out, grab some chalk and bring history to life by playing the same games as the ancient Roman soldiers.