Persian Wonders Event - History of Board Games, Dr Irving Finkel

The Event

Organised by Persian Wonders

Location: Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge
Date: 11/11/2023
Attendances: About 70 audiences
Contact: event@persianwonders.com

We were honoured to host Dr Irving Finkel as our guest speaker. He is a British expert in ancient languages and cultures, specifically focusing on the script and languages of ancient Mesopotamia. He holds the position of Assistant Keeper of Ancient Mesopotamian script, languages, and cultures at the Department of the Middle East in the British Museum.

One of Finkel's research areas revolves around the history of board games, and he actively contributes to Board Game Studies as a member of the Editorial Board. One of his notable achievements includes deciphering the oldest game rules and reconstructing the Royal Game of Ur.

The event centered around the Royal Game of Ur. On display were replicas of the royal game of Ur, ancient board game, discovered at the Shahr-i Sokhta UNESCO World Heritage site in Persia, as well as the oldest rule book.

The Event Leaflet

History of Board Games event at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge

The Catalogue

Limited edition, exclusively designed for The History of Board Games

Conference Photos

Conference Video

HISTORY OF BOARD GAMES, The Royal Game of Ur | Dr Irving Finkel

Objects on display

References

*PW - Persian Wonders (based on our conclusion and study)

1. Majidzadeh, Yousef. "The Land of Aratta." Journal of Near Eastern Studies 35, no. 2 (1976): 105-13. Accessed August 10, 2020. www.jstor.org/stable/545195.

2. The British Museum. 2020. collection. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/W_1936-1217-2. [Accessed 10 August 2020].

3. Madjidzadeh, Youssef & Pittman, Holly. (2008). Excavations at Konar Sandal in the region of Jiroft in the Halil basin: First preliminary report (2002-2008). Iran. 46. 69-103. 10.2307/25651436.

4. Geoffrey,B. Olivier,J. Youssef,M. ARTE France.; Gedeon Programmes. Special Broadcasting Service Corporation. SBS-TV. (2005). Unearthing the lost kingdom of Aratta. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.terranoa.com/product/product.php?code=125

5. Majidzadeh, Yousef. "The Land of Aratta." Journal of Near Eastern Studies 35, no. 2 (1976): 105-13. Accessed August 10, 2020. www.jstor.org/stable/545195.

6. Francfort H.-P., Tremblay X. Marhaši et la civilisation de l'Oxus // Iranica Antiqua, vol. XLV (2010), pp. 51–224. doi: 10.2143/IA.45.0.2047119.

7. Madjidzadeh, Youssef & Pittman, Holly. (2008). Excavations at Konar Sandal in the region of Jiroft in the Halil basin: First preliminary report (2002-2008). Iran. 46. 69-103. 10.2307/25651436.

8. Desset, Francois. (2014). A new writing system discovered in 3rd millennium bce iran: The konar sandal 'geometric' tablets. Iranica Antiqua. 49. 83-109. 10.2143/IA.49.0.3009239.

9. Geoffrey,B. Olivier,J. Youssef,M. ARTE France.; Gedeon Programmes. Special Broadcasting Service Corporation. SBS-TV. (2005). Unearthing the lost kingdom of Aratta. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.terranoa.com/product/product.php?code=125

10. Geoffrey,B. Olivier,J. Youssef,M. ARTE France.; Gedeon Programmes. Special Broadcasting Service Corporation. SBS-TV. (2005). Unearthing the lost kingdom of Aratta. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.terranoa.com/product/product.php?code=125

11. Curtis, J. Finkel,I (Ed.). (2013). The Cyrus Cylinder: The Great Persian Edict from Babylon.

12. Curtis, J. (2013). The Cyrus Cylinder and Ancient Persia: A New Beginning for the Middle East.

13. Farzin, R. (2007). Iran: Seven Faces of Civilization.