As the hype builds around our Dice Around The World Kickstarter campaign, one particular item has been sparking a lot of curiosity—the Ancient d20 replicas. These meticulously crafted dice replicas, 30mm in size, were included to the rich history of dice gaming that spans thousands of years around the world. With the next stretch goal in sight, we wanted to share a peak at these historical dice and the adventures behind them.
Egyptian Demotic d20: 1st Century AD, Graeco-Roman Egypt
This twenty-sided die, inscribed with Demotic script (cursive hieroglyphics), likely dates back to the Graeco-Roman period, 1st century AD. The original die was discovered in the Dakleh Oasis in Egypt, offering a glimpse into the use of dice during this fascinating era - which was likely used for divination purposes.
Ptolemaic d20: The World’s Oldest d20
This Ptolemaic d20 is thought to be the oldest twenty-sided die ever discovered. Inscribed with Greek letters, this die is believed to be from the Ptolemaic Period-Roman Period and was unearthed in 1980 in Egypt. The original artifact is currently housed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Both our replica and the original are made from Serpentinite, a striking stone that may not look the same as our modern replica, but indeed shares the same origins. With this die in hand, you’ll be rolling the as the ancients once used, connecting your gaming experience to history itself!
Devanagari d20: A Tribute to Ancient India
The third ancient d20 replica in our collection is inspired by India. The Devanagari d20, made from prismic glass, features Devanagari numerals from Sanskrit, a script that achieved its modern form by 1200 CE. Although this script came to prominence in the 8th century CE - dice themselves have been used on the Indian subcontinent for much longer—the earliest dice found there date back to 2000 BCE in the Indus Valley.
Headed for The Next Stretch Goal: Unlocking These Historical d20s
As we speed towards our next Kickstarter stretch goal, these three Ancient d20 replicas are within reach! All three 30mm dice will be unlocked once we hit $50,000 - and, as always, they come with Misty Mountain’s lifetime warranty.
Which one speaks to you the most? Whether it’s the Demotic, Ptolemaic or Devanagari die, each one is steeped in history and ready to bring a bit of ancient magic to your next tabletop adventure!
Learn more | https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mistymountaingaming/dice-around-the-world/posts/4214773
