TĀLUS

( ἀστράγαλος ), a huckle-bone. The huckle-bones of sheep and goats were used to play with from the earliest times, principally by women and children, occasionally by old men. To play at this game was sometimes called πενταλιθίζειν , because five bones or other objects of a similar kind were employed; and this number is retained among ourselves. When the sides of the bone were marked with different values, the game became one of chance. [ Alea ; Te era .] The two ends were left blank, because the bone could not rest upon either of them on account of its curvature. The four remaining sides were marked with the numbers 1, 3, 4, 6; 1 and 6 being on two opposite sides, and 3 and 4 on the other two opposite sides. The Greek and Latin names of the numbers were as follows:—1. Μονάς , εἶς , κύων , Χῖος ; Ion. Οἴνη : Unio , Vulturius , can is : 3. Τρίας , Ternio ; 4. Τετράς , Quaternio ; 6. Ἑξάς , ἑξίτης , Κῷος ; Senio . Two persons played together at this game, using four bones, which they threw up into the air, or emptied out of a dice-box, and observing the numbers on the uppermost sides. The numbers on the four sides of the four bones admitted of thirty-five different combinations. The lowest throw of all was four aces ( jacere vultorios quatuor ). But the value of a throw was not in all cases the sum of the four numbers turned up. The highest in value was that called Venus , or jactus Venereus , in which the numbers cast up were all different, the sum of them being only fourteen. It was by obtaining this throw that the king of the feast was appointed among the Romans [ Symposium ], and hence it was also called Basilic us . Certain other throws were called by particular names, taken from gods, illustrious men and women, and heroes. Thus the throw, consisting of two aces and two trays, making eight, which number, like the jactus Venereus, could be obtained only once, was denominated Ste sich or us . IMG:6459379820872971714_ill361b.jpg: Game of Tali. (From an ancient Painting.)