Tic-tac-toe played in ancient Assos

The ancients might not have had Candy Crush to while away their time while waiting about, but they did have everyone’s favorite Xs and Os game, tic-tac-toe, according to archaeological findings from Assos on the Turkish Aegean coast.

Shapes that were carved on the stones for people to play games, like this Roman
 Rota board game, while waiting to enter the city have been found in 
the ancient city of Assos [Credit: AA]

“There are towers next to the gates. We saw that the square in front of both towers was marked by cleanly cut stone blocks. There were also benches for people who were waiting in front of the city gates,” Onsekiz Mart University Archaeology Department Professor Nurettn Arslan said. “Shapes were carved on the stones here for people to play tic-tac-toe. We see that similar games were played throughout the Graeco-Roman world.”

"People who came to Assos (located in modern-day Canakkale) 2,300 years ago for the purpose of trade or visiting passed their time playing games while waiting," Arslan said.

The main gates of the city were made of wood, the professor also said. “Generally, gates were closed when it is dark and people had to wait for until sunrise to enter the city. This was a general rule. We can still see the traces of big wood blocks used to keep the gates closed.”

Source: Hurriyet Daily News [December 08, 2015]