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The game of chess has been known in the Near East for over a millennium. The Arabs became acquainted with it when they conquered Persia in the 7th century BCE, and they brought the game to Europe. The 10th century Arab historian Al-Masudi relates that chess was used to teach military strategy, mathematical calculations and even as an allegory on the celestial beings. 11th century poet Ferdowsi, author of the national Persian epic Shahnameh, notes that chess was invented as a way of breaking the news to the mother of Indian king Gaab, of the death of her son in a battle with his brother, and the story of the battle was shown to her on the chess board. A large number of chess pieces, that were discovered in excavations in the city of Nishapur, indicate the popularity of the game in 10th century Iran. The king in Persian is called “Shah” and Shah Matt (“shachmat” - “chess” in Hebrew) means “the king was defeated”. In the 12th century the vizier, now the queen, not only changed his name and character but also his gender, because the roles of the vizier were not understood in Europe. The knight is represented by a horse. The war chariot was converted into a castle, or rook. The Sanskrit word “ratha”, meaning chariot, in Persian became “wind”, denoting a bird, which was eventually transmuted into English as “rook”. The elephant is, today, a bishop. It is called so because of its similarity to the bishop’s mitre. The pawns (soldiers) are simple and small pieces.
Picture:
Elephants (bishops)
Iran 9th century-11th century, ivory
(1) Height: 9.7 cm.
(2) Height: 6.5 cm.
(3) Height: 11.6 cm.
(4) Height: 3.8 cm.
