ROMAN TOYS AND GAMES BY ANTHONY PANTOJA DEAN PAPADOPOULOS

INTRODUCTION D uring the roman ages, they didn’t have videogames like the ones we have now but they had plenty of toys to play like balls, board games, hobbyhorses, kites, tiny models of people and animals. D uring the roman ages, they didn’t have videogames like the ones we have now but they had plenty of toys to play like balls, board games, hobbyhorses, kites, tiny models of people and animals. T he ancient Romans played with hoops, with pieces of metal on them, like bells, to jingle and warn people in their way. T he ancient Romans played with hoops, with pieces of metal on them, like bells, to jingle and warn people in their way.

BASIC GAMES B oys walked on stilts and played games with balls. B oys walked on stilts and played games with balls. T hey played tic- tac-toe and a game called “knucklebones”, which is a lot like jacks and crazy bones,only played with bones. T hey played tic- tac-toe and a game called “knucklebones”, which is a lot like jacks and crazy bones,only played with bones.

WAR-LIKE GAMES T he boys also played war-like games with wooden swords quite fiercely and while the girls with rag dolls of wax or clay, they also played board games and even lifted weights. T he boys also played war-like games with wooden swords quite fiercely and while the girls with rag dolls of wax or clay, they also played board games and even lifted weights. D ogs were common and favourite house pets. D ogs were common and favourite house pets.

GLADIATOR GAMES O ther games also included Gladiator games at the arena. O ther games also included Gladiator games at the arena. M ost fighters had armour, swords and spear.M ost fighters had armour, swords and spear.

CHARIOT MODELS T hese races often lasted seven laps. T hese races often lasted seven laps. T hey also had chariot races which were quite fierce and a little horrible to look at because there blood and chariots crash into each other when they turn around at a corner, losing balance causing them to crash into others T hey also had chariot races which were quite fierce and a little horrible to look at because there blood and chariots crash into each other when they turn around at a corner, losing balance causing them to crash into others

CHILDREN GAMES B oys made their own carts and used goats as horses while they pretend they are real charioteers B oys made their own carts and used goats as horses while they pretend they are real charioteers C hildren also had marbles to play with and model chariots. C hildren also had marbles to play with and model chariots. T he roman marbles were made out of glass or pottery/clay. T he roman marbles were made out of glass or pottery/clay.