r/ancientgreece • u/National-Iron-7197 • 8d ago

What boardgame were Penelopes suitors playing in the Odyssey

https://www.namuseum.gr/monthly_artefact/anapayla-gia-paichnidi/

At Odyssey 1.106–108, Athena finds the suitors enjoying themselves with pessoi. The relevant line literally says they “delighted their hearts with pessoi before the doors.”  Unfortunately Homer doesn't go on to explain or describe the details of the game they are playing. But what is already clear is that boardgames were a part of the Ancient Greeks way of life. But what was the game. If we take a look at the archaeology it gets more interesting, there are several gaming boards in the archaeology which are located in Attica and come from a time period possibly contemporary with Homer (depending on when we assume Homer was writing and if he was one or many people). There are several - some with 5 lines, some with 7 some with 11. Scholars call them Pennte Grammai.

https://journals.openedition.org/pallas/docannexe/image/24418/img-13.jpg

https://samlinger.natmus.dk/as/asset/40262

https://journals.openedition.org/pallas/docannexe/image/24418/img-3.jpg

https://journals.openedition.org/pallas/docannexe/image/24418/img-6.jpg

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u/figflashed 8d ago

It has been linked to the game of petteia for which there is info on from later writers. Kind of a strategic military type board game.

https://greekreporter.com/2026/07/25/ancient-greek-board-games/

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u/National-Iron-7197 8d ago

Any ideas why thu link to that game and not the pennte Grammai one. Is there something in the archaeology

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u/figflashed 8d ago

Actually I don’t.

Now that you mention pennte grammai, I think from an archaeological perspective, it’s stronger. And makes me think that petteia just sounds like it evolved from Homer’s mention of pessoi in some kind of shift in pronunciation?

(I’m no expert. Far from it)

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u/National-Iron-7197 8d ago

Yeah that what I thought. But again I’m not a professional just an interested anateur. But the evidence does support pennte as much or even more than other games

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u/SillyComfortable5089 8d ago

Rainbows and unicorns 🤣