Here’s some proof that gamers have been around through most of recorded history. Christie’s has a Roman twenty-sided die up for bid. The die dates back to the second century AD.
According to the Christie’s lot notes:
Several polyhedra in various materials with similar symbols are known from the Roman period. Modern scholarship has not yet established the game for which these dice were used.
Time-travelling D&D players? Gary Gygax is older than we think? Whatever the explanation, Christie’s expects the die to go for between 4000 and 6000 US dollars. If only I could get that much for my original TSR polyhedra set.
