Ludus Latrunculorum

Ludus Latrunculorum is a board game played in the Roman Empire. As such, it dates back to around at least the first century BC, though it may be a form of an even older Greek game called Petteia. 

Although the precise rules are lost to time, what is clear is that it was a war game between two players. It was a pure strategy game; no dice were involved. Board size seems to have been variable (e.g. 7x8, 8x8, 9x10). The aim was to capture all or most of the opponent's pieces. Both players had an equal number of pieces (possibly with an additional ‘dux’ piece which had more power) and pieces moved orthogonally. Sources are unclear as to whether this involved one square or unlimited squares (i.e. like a king or rook in chess) per turn. What does appear clear from contemporary sources is that pieces were captured by being surrounded by two enemy pieces on either side ('custodian capture'). The game might have had two phases, with the first phase involving placing all pieces on the initially empty board, after which moving and capturing then took place in the second phase.

One of my two Ludus Latrunculorum sets was a xmas gift from friends years ago. The board is a square of leather, with a simple 7x8 grid. The pieces are made from wood, and kept in a leather pouch. For this set, the board starts empty.

My other set for Ludus Latrunculorum is marketed as 'Ludus Romanus'. In this set each side has a single additional 'dux' piece, and I've set up this game with all pieces on the back two rows at the start of the game, and the 'dux' piece in front of those two rows.

Although Ludus Latrunculorum as a game disappeared with the Roman Empire, a part of it appeared to have lived on in Hnefatafl: it is thought that the 'custodian capture' in tafl games came from Ludus Latrunculorum ...