By Elizabeth Carpenter
Mazeology
www.mazeology.net
284 W. 12th Street #2
New York, NY 10014
212-929-0734
For thousands of years Senet was the most popular game in the world . . . until the rulebook was lost. Now Mazeology has created a modern rulebook and brought this ancient game back to life. Senet is the origin of today's backgammon and cribbage, so play is similar to these two games with a bit of influence from checkers as well. The game board is very colorful and sturdy; the game pieces are hand crafted and phthalate-free.
The object of this two-player game is to be the first to move all five of your game pieces around and off the board before your opponent. Depending on the position of your pieces (attractively painted Egyptian heads), after rolling the die, you might attack, block, or shift your opponent's game pieces to better position yourself for victory. There are many rules regarding movement around the board. If you land on a space occupied by your opponent, he must move back to your old spot. If you have lined up three of your pieces in a row, this is called a block, and your opponent may not attack or jump over you. Sometimes a forward move is not possible, so then a piece must be moved backwards. It can be rather complicated understanding all the rules for movement (as in chess), but once an understanding is reached, this can really be a fun game for both children and adults.
A little historical perspective--ancient Egyptians felt that Senet was a representation of life on earth and that moving all of one's game pieces off the board symbolized transition into the afterlife. Whether or not you chose to emphasize this piece of trivia, this game would easily complement your study of ancient Egypt. Senet has earned both the 2008 Parents' Choice Foundation Recommendation Award and the Dr. Toy Best of 2008 Summer Play and Learn Award.
Product review by Tammy Walker, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, August 2008
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