Oldest
Top 7 Oldest Chess Sets In The World
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Chess is more than just a game; it's a complex interplay of strategy, foresight, and creativity, where each move carries the weight of consequence and the promise of victory. There have been findings of old chess pieces from as far as the 5th century.
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Here we would like to share with you the oldest chess sets in the world to ever be found.
7. Lewis (Uig) Chessmen (12th century)
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| Credit: British Museum |
The Lewis Chessmen, sometimes referred to as the Uig Chessmen due to their discovery in the village of Uig on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland, are among the most iconic and historically significant chess sets in the world.
In the early 19th century, in 1831, a local shepherd named Malcolm MacLeod discovered the Lewis Chessmen buried within a sand dune in Uig Bay. The pieces were concealed within a small stone chamber.
The Lewis Chessmen are believed to have been created during the late 12th century, likely in Norway. At that time, the Western Isles of Scotland were under Norse control, and the pieces reflect the art and culture of the Viking Age.
The Lewis Chessmen comprise 78 pieces in total, with 67 of them being chess pieces. The set includes kings, queens, bishops, knights, rooks, and pawns.
6. Charlemagne Chess Set (1100)
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| Credit: Bibliothèque nationale de France |
The Charlemagne Chess Set is often associated with the legendary Frankish king Charlemagne but the set's actual origins and connection to the historical figure remain a subject of debate and mystery.
The chess set is widely believed to date back to the early medieval period, possibly around 1100, and was believed to have originated from Italy. Whether or not it has a direct connection to the Frankish king, represents a pivotal point in the history of chess.
Regrettably, a number of pieces were nowhere to be found during the tumultuous period of the French Revolution. As it stands today, the chess set comprises two kings, two queens, four elephants, four knights, three chariots, and one infantryman.
5. Persian Chess Set (~11 - 12th Century)
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| Credit: Metmuseum |
Believed to have originated in India and traveled to Persia (modern-day Iran) during the Islamic Golden Age, this chess set carries with it a rich history. The Old Persian Chess Set is thought to have emerged in the 6th century in India, where it was initially known as "Chaturanga."
Over time, it made its way to Persia, where it underwent significant evolution and adaptation. The king, known as the shah, and the queen, referred to as the vizier, are symbolized by intricately designed thrones.
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The bishop, called the fils, takes the form of an elephant, a common representation in pre-European chess sets, while the knight, known as the faras, is depicted as a horse.
4. Ager Chessmen (1021)
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| Credit: Museums of Catalonia |
It is believed that chess might have been introduced to Muslim Spain from Baghdad during the 800s and then gradually spread throughout Europe. Although this particular set was discovered in Ager, Spain, the use of rock crystal in its construction suggests that its origin lies potentially in Egypt.
Referred to as the Urgel or Urgell chessmen, named after a nearby village in Catalonia, this set has unfortunately been dispersed, with certain pieces having gone missing. Some of these pieces are still located in Ager, while others can be found in Lerida, Spain.
In the late 19th century, a few of these pieces were transported to Paris, where they were put up for auction and subsequently purchased by the Emir of Kuwait. These chessmen continue to be housed in Kuwait to this day.
3. Mozarab (~10th Century)
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| Credit: Carolus Chess |
The Mozarab Chess Set is believed to have been created during the period of Moorish rule in Spain, which extended from the 8th to the 15th century. The term "Mozarab" refers to the Christian population living under Muslim rule during this time.
Genadio de Astorga, who served as the Bishop of Astorga in 900-936, is credited as the first Christian saint known to have engaged in chess. According to local folklore, it is believed that these chess pieces were once in his possession, and they are currently under the guardianship of the Monastery of San Miguel de la Escalada, located in Leon, Spain.
2. Venafro Chess Set (~10th Century)
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| Credit: Museo Archeologico di Venafro |
The Venafro Chess Set is a historically significant chess set that hails from the ancient town of Venafro, located in the Molise region of southern Italy. The chess pieces were discovered in 1932 which dates back somewhere in the 10th century.
There were 19 pieces altogether and they were thought to be among the oldest chess sets in Europe. The city where it was found, Venafro was under Islamic rule during the 9th and 10th centuries.
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The presence of an Arabic-style chess set in Italy might not be entirely unexpected. Nevertheless, the mystery lies in how these chess pieces found their way into an ancient Roman tomb.
1. Afrasiab Chessmen (~7th Century)
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| Credit: History Chess |
The Afrasiab Chessmen, which are believed to date back to the 7th century, were discovered in the ancient city of Afrasiab, situated near modern-day Samarkand in Uzbekistan.
It is believed to be the oldest chess set in the world as of writing. They were thought to have been created during the Sassanian Empire, a Persian dynasty that ruled from the 3rd to the 7th century. The discovery of these chess pieces is attributed to the archaeologist Jurij F. Burjakov, who dated them to the early 7th century.
The set comprises a monarch, a chariot (resembling a rook), a vizier (akin to a queen), a steed (representing a knight), an elephant (symbolizing a bishop), and a pair of infantrymen (akin to pawns).
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