Senet is one of the oldest known board games, dating back to at least 2620 BCE in Ancient Egypt. While its original rules are lost to time, modern reconstructions treat it as a racing game with deep religious and funerary significance.
Concepts & Symbolism
The Journey of the Soul (The Tarot Parallel)
In Egypt, Senet was more than a game—it was a simulation of the soul’s journey through the underworld (Duat) to reach the afterlife.
- This parallels The Fool’s Journey in the Tarot.
- The 30 squares of the board represent the hurdles and trials the soul must overcome.
- Reaching the end of the board is synonymous with achieving immortality and unification with Ra.
Fate vs. Skill
Movement is determined by casting four two-sided sticks (effectively binary dice).
- This represents The Wheel of Fortune—the role of divine providence or “luck” in the human experience.
- However, the player must choose which pieces to move, introducing the element of agency.
Basic Rules (Modern Reconstruction)
- Objective: Pass all your pieces off the board before the opponent.
- Movement: Throw casting sticks to determine moves (1, 2, 3, 4, or 6 squares).
- The Houses: Certain squares are “safe” (The House of Happiness) or dangerous (The House of Water/The Trap).
- Capture: Landing on an opponent’s piece swaps their positions.
Skill Progression
While not formally ranked like modern Chess, progression in Senet involves:
- The Initiate: Understanding the “Houses” and the risk of the Trap.
- The Scribe: Mastering the blocking mechanics. Pieces can protect each other when adjacent.
- The Vizier: Understanding the statistical distribution of the casting sticks and optimizing piece placement to maximize “Safety” while forcing the opponent into dangerous squares.
IMPORTANT
By the New Kingdom, Senet boards were often placed in tombs so the deceased could play against an invisible opponent (fate) to secure their passage to the afterlife.