17th century
Ivory
In 1991, during archaeological excavations in the inner courtyard of the Grand Dukes’ Palace of the Vilnius Lower Castle, an ivory gaming die was discovered. In the Middle Ages, ivory was considered an extremely valuable material, sometimes even more precious than gold or gemstones.
Gambling is one of humanity’s oldest activities, as evidenced by inscriptions and finds discovered in ancient Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Chinese tombs, as well as other archaeological sites. The origins of gambling are linked to divination: by casting marked sticks, bones, or other objects and interpreting the results, people sought to learn about the future and the intentions of the gods.
The exhibit can be seen on Route I of the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania.
Information prepared by Milda Samulionytė-Zikarienė
