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HistorySurprise 4/5Difficulty 3/5Reviewed on October 17, 2026

Senet, played in ancient Egypt more than 5,000 years ago, is one of the oldest known board games.

Why it is true

The board had 30 squares in three rows of ten, and pieces moved forward when sticks or knucklebones were thrown. Over time the game took on a religious meaning, linked to the soul's journey to the afterlife. Tutankhamun was buried with four senet boards.

Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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