FROM THE HISTORY TRADITIONAL TABLE GAME - BACKGAMMA

Abstract

Backgammon has always been popular but, of course, not always as popular as it is today. While the West mainly plays back gammon (the so-called "short backgammon"), in the South Caucasus, especially in Azerbaijan, not only the "short", but also the "long" version of the game, "real backgammon" as it is called here, are played. The backgammon, the very old Oriental game, is loved by almost everyone in Azerbaijan, including women and men, the youth and the elder people. It unites family members, friends and neighbours over many hours' contest laced with conversations and tea-drinking. In general, Azerbaijani people's attitude toward backgammon is very special and therefore it is no surprise that the ace players try to put in every effort to ensure it is not just a playing board, the draughtsmen and the dice, but a true piece of art in every case. Backgammon is an ancient Eastern game, at least seven thousand years old. The founder of the Safari State, Shah Ismail Khatai, wrote about it, as did the great poets of the Land of Fire- Fizuli, Khagani, Nizami, and the leading writers of East- Firdousi, Sadi and Navoi. The hero of the national epic, Koroglu, also was a good judge of backgammon.
The game was called by its Persian name in Azerbaijan- "nard takhte". The country of origin of this game has not been identified; however, a similar one was discovered in the tomb of Pharaon Tutankhamen (15th century BC). Backgammon also came from the East, as did many other ancient games. Historic finds serve as a proof of its remote origins. Persian astrologers used to foretell the future of the king's using backgammon. The backgammon board can be made of mahogany, pear tree, apple tree and many other sorts of wood. It can be both dark and light. As for the ornamentation, the variations are endless because every engraver improvises and so the output ranges from the very realistic compositions to the absolutely abstract entwinement of smooth lines. Covered in varnish, all this magnificence goes over to those who will enjoy it for many years and even generations as the backgammon sets are handed from the father to the son and become the priceless antiques in time.