eMuseumStore.com

This Greek Roman Classical Chess Set is a stunning gift for a lover of classical times and ancient military history. It celebrates the intense strategy of war at famous battles such as the Battle of Marathon or Actium. Guided by the Gods, your chances of winning will be tested by your understanding of past military encounters!

The pawns are Hoplite citizen-soldiers of the Ancient Greek City-states. They form a phalanx formation (a tight rectangular mass military formation) in front of their king and queen. The rooks are urns which represent extra military rations for the long battle. The knights are majestic horse heads made famous in Greek times by Xenophon (ca 360 BC), a Greek cavalry officer who had written an extensive treatise on horsemanship. The bishops are Athena sculptures, goddess of wisdom and war, who provides strategy in the game. The King is represented by Zeus (Jupiter), leader of all the gods and god of the sky and thunder. The Queen is represented by Venus Victrix ("Venus the Victorious"), the armed Venus, whom the Greeks inherited from the East and to whom Roman military leaders called for support in battle.

Greek Roman Classical Chess Set is made from resin and crushed stone with antiqued details. The individual pieces range in size from 2.5" to 4"H. The raised board is 16.5" square x 2"H. It looks like a quarried stone fragment. The pieces come in a sateen lined storage box as pictured for safe keeping.

History of Chess:

The game of chess dates back centuries to nations like Persia, India, and China. The Moors invaded Persia in the 8th Century and learned the game from them. Years later, the Moors invaded Spain and brought the game with them. Spain adopted the game and quickly spread it throughout Europe.

Europeans had a hard time pronouncing the Persian names for the game pieces, so they took it upon themselves to rename the figures to suitable roles that reflected the Medieval times social structure they were living in. The pawns relflected the lowly surfs (laborers) in the bottom class that could be sacrificed to save anyone above them, which meant everyone.

The rook (castles) served as the home base. The knights on horseback served as a professional soldiers for the upper class. The bishops are the high religious figures. The queen has the most power and can move as she wishes, but without the king, the game is over.

Product Review: Write your own review

Related Categories: Chess Sets , Games , Greco-Roman , NEW ITEMS