18 July 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

A Dice Game board from 5th century BC found in western Turkey’s Daskyleion

Archaeologists found a terracotta dice game tabla dating back to the fifth century B.C. during the excavations of the ancient city of Daskyleion in the Bandırma district of western Balıkesir province.

Daskyleion, located on the shores of Lake Manyas, contains relics of many Anatolian civilizations. The renowned Lydian King Daskylos arrived in the city from Sardis, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia, in the seventh century B.C. The reason for his moving was dynastic quarrels.

Daskylos’s son Gyges was born in Daskyleion, and he was later recalled to Lydia. After he became the king of Lydia, the city was named Daskyleion – the place of Daskylos – around 650 B.C.

Due to the natural beauty and the strong geopolitical position of the region, Daskyleion was established to the south of Lake Manyas (Paradeisos). Daskyleion was carefully reconstructed by the Phrygians, Lydias, Achaemenids, Macedonians, and even Byzantines as a strong fortress, and its economy was kept at a high level.

The recent excavations of the ancient city are taking place under the presidency of Professor Kaan Iren of Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University. Speaking to reporters about her work, Iren said that a team of 20 people was involved in the excavation.

Photo: AA

It was determined that “Bagabazos’ dice game” was written in Phrygian letters on the tabla found in the ruins. The artifact found was reviewed by Dr Rostyslav Oreshko from the French National Center for Scientific Research.

Professor İren said, “Dr Oreshko has made an important discovery for the history of Anatolia. On the piece found, it says ‘Bagabazos’ dice game’ or ‘Bagabazos dice player’. The inscription is written in the Phrygian alphabet and Bagabazos is a Persian individual. His name is pronounced as Megabazos in ancient Greek sources. Such archaeological data about this game board, which belongs to the 5th century BC, was discovered in Daskyleion for the first time in Anatolia.” he said.

İren also stated that during this year’s excavations, they found the city entrance wall of the 8th century BC and a tower with a thickness of 8 meters.

Cover Photıo: AA

Related Articles

Remains of 2 houses belonging to the founding period of the city were unearthed in the ancient city of Hierapolis

5 November 2021

5 November 2021

During this year’s excavations in the ancient city of Hierapolis-Pamukkale in Turkey’s Aegean province Denizli, the remains of two houses...

Turkish researchers to work in Mount Ağrı believed to host Noah’s Ark remains

15 December 2022

15 December 2022

A team from Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ) and Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University (AİÇÜ) has started in the area where the...

Saudi Archaeologists have discovered a pre-Islamic Musnad inscription and a bronze bullhead

18 February 2023

18 February 2023

Saudi archaeologists have discovered the longest pre-Islamic Musnad inscription -of the ancient south Arabian script- and three gold rings and...

Unique Gems found in Claterna, known as the ‘Pompeii of the North’

18 November 2023

18 November 2023

Italian archaeologists have unearthed 50 unique jewels during ongoing excavations at Claterna, the ancient Roman site known as the ‘Pompeii...

A Special structure Contemporary to Göbeklitepe found at Gre Fılla Höyük in Eastern Turkey

4 August 2022

4 August 2022

Pit-bottomed structures dating to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period were found at Gre Fılla Höyük (Gre Fılla Mound) in the province...

3,500-Year-Old Hittite Linen Fabric Exhibited for the First Time

10 March 2025

10 March 2025

A remarkable artifact, a piece of Hittite linen fabric dating back 3,500 years, has been publicly exhibited for the first...

Papal bull discovered in a former cemetery dated to the 14th century

10 May 2023

10 May 2023

A medieval bull found in 2021 in Budzistów village (Kołobrzeg district), Poland has been restored and placed on display in...

Women with Sart Renovate Largest Synagogue of Ancient World

4 August 2023

4 August 2023

Village women take part in the renovation works of the largest synagogue in the ancient world, located in the ancient...

In Turkey’s Gedikkaya Cave, a stone figurine was discovered inside a 16,500-year-old votive pit

17 December 2022

17 December 2022

A stone figurine was discovered in a 16500-year-old votive pit belonging to the Epi-paleolithic period, the transition phase from the...

Europe’s oldest grave of a newborn girl found in İtaly

15 December 2021

15 December 2021

An international team of researchers has found Europe’s oldest tomb of a newborn girl, dating back 10,000 years, in Liguria....

Archaeologists in the Tangier Peninsula Discovered Three Ancient Cemeteries, Including a Stone Burial Dating to Around 4,000 Years Ago

17 May 2025

17 May 2025

A significant archaeological discovery in northern Morocco’s Tangier Peninsula, situated just south of the Strait of Gibraltar, has led to...

Arrowhead from the Biblical Battle Discovered in the Hometown of the Giant Goliath’s

30 May 2021

30 May 2021

A bone arrowhead discovered in the ancient Philistine city of Gath might have been used fired off by the city’s...

Archaeologists Reveal First Settlement of Cimmerians in Anatolia

23 June 2023

23 June 2023

Continuing excavations in Türkiye’s central Kırıkkale province have revealed new findings indicating that Büklükale village was the first settlement of...

2,000-year-old Monumental Tomb of Roman Elite discovered in Apollon Smintheus sanctuary in Türkiye

2 January 2024

2 January 2024

A 2,000-year-old monumental tomb from the Roman era has been unearthed at the Apollon Smintheus Sanctuary in the village of...

Archaeologists Unearth Exceptionally Preserved Roman Wicker Well in Norfolk, England

4 July 2025

4 July 2025

A team of archaeologists from Oxford Archaeology has uncovered a remarkably intact Roman-era well in Norfolk, England, revealing new insights...