Page 13 - Pompeii n. 12 - The world of money at Pompeii
P. 13

English version



                Many dice specimens have been found in the Vesuvian cities and elsewhere, clearly
            showing how popular gambling was at the time, as widely attested by our sources.
                Indeed we find the fritillus as a sign for gambling dens, and there is no shortage of
            engaging depictions of dice players in taverns, sometimes fighting, as in the small picture
            painted in caupona VI 14, 36.
                Dice were also used for games of skill generally played on a tabula lusoria, a sort of
            chessboard.  Under  these  circumstances,  it  was  necessary  for  the  players  to  reconcile
            their calculations with the luck factor.
                Loaded dice have also been found, weighted with lead on the inside of one face to
            get a certain number is rolled.





































               NAPLES, NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM, , Dice gamblers. From Pompei, Caupona
               of Salvius. Inv. 111482. ©SSBAPES.

               POMPEII, DEPOSITS. Rigged dice. From Pompei, House of Indian Statuette. Inv.7034B.
               ©SSBAPES.
               POMPEII, DEPOSITS. Astragals. Form Pompeii. House  I,12,6. Inv. 13284A-B.
               ©SSBAPES.















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