Roman chess ROTA

The game ROTA is part of a series of reconstructions of historical games, handmade from natural materials in the DABRAVA studio. The game board is made of leather suede, with ceramic or glass checkers. The game folds up and ties into a lightweight bag, convenient for storage, carrying and playing anywhere.

The ornaments on the board are based on motifs from a 4th century floor mosaic discovered in the Episcopal Basilica of Philippopolis – today’s Plovdiv: vine, ivy (ancient symbol of immortality) and kantharos (symbol of the Source of Life).

The game develops strategic thinking, patience, observation and concentration.

Features
Players 2
Age 6+
Game board 100% genuine leather – suede, 42 cm
Checkers 3 light and 3 dark glass checkers, 15 -18 mm
Rules and history Leaflet in Bulgarian and English
Color tile orange, sandy beige

Origin of the game

ROTA is a Roman strategy game. Engraved outlines of the board are found on stones or bricks at many Roman sites and buildings throughout the Roman Empire. “Rota” is Latin for “wheel”. It was named by Elmer Merrill in his 1916 article. Based on similar games from the same era, he restored the rules that we still use today. Information about the rules of the game is also described in two poems by Ovid, in the 1st century AD. He indicates that the winner places 3 checkers in a row.

ROTA reached the Balkan Peninsula with Roman legionaries during Antiquity, when these parts of Europe fell under Roman rule (1st century BC – 1st century AD).