2-605-031 - © CM Dixon/Heritage Images

Terracotta group of 'knucklebone' (astragalos) players, Hellenistic Greek, c330-c300 BC. The two figures play a game similar to the modern game of 'jacks'. It involved throwing the 'knucklebones' up in the air and catching as many as possible on one hand as they fell. The 'knucklebones' were the anklebones of sheep or goats, or models made of ivory, bronze or terracotta. From the British Museum's collection.