User Contributed Dictionary
Noun
tabula, tabulae fRelated terms
Extensive Definition
Tabula was a board game in the tables
family, and is generally thought to be the direct ancestor of
modern backgammon.
The earliest description of tabula is in an
epigram of Byzantine Emperor Zeno
(476–481), given by Agathias of Myrine
(527–567), who describes a game in which Zeno goes from a
strong position to a very weak one after an unfortunate dice roll.
The rules of Tabula were reconstructed in the 19th century by
Becq
de Fouquières based upon this epigram.
Tabula was most likely a later refinement of
ludus
duodecim scriptorum, with the board's middle row of points
removed, and only the two outer rows remaining. The game was played
on a board nearly identical to a modern backgammon board. Two
players had 15 pieces each, and moved them in opposing directions
around the board, according to the roll of three dice. A piece
resting alone in a space on the board was vulnerable to being
hit.
References
External links
tabula in Bulgarian: Табула
tabula in German: Tabula