The Romans loved to play games, unfortunately they sometimes took things a little too seriously. Loaded dice, loaded throws or even just the suspicion of cheating could lead to blows and sometimes death!
 
Fortunately around the 4th century AD, dice towers (pyrgus) begin to appear. Archaeologists seem to agree that they were invented in an attempt to curb cheating in game play. Evidence implies that these dice towers were once very common, however only four or five have ever been found; (possibly) two in Egypt, one in Vettweiss-Froitzheim in Germany, one in Richborough Roman Fort in Britain and one in Portugal.
 
The Vetweiss-Froitzheim Dice tower was made of bronze and had bells that rung as the dice struck them on their way out of the bottom.
 
This dice tower is our interpretation of the one found at Vetweiss-Froitzheim in Germany. It can be used to enhance any game that uses dice and some members of public at our events have simply enjoyed dropping the dice through it repeatedly, soothed by the pleasing noise the dice makes as it tumbles down the baffles.
 
This pyrgus has two inscriptions, one on the front, and one along the top on the other three sides. The one on the top reads:
 
PICTOS
VICTOS
HOSTIS
DELETA
LUDITE
SECURI
 
Which loosely translates as:
 
The Picts have been defeated,
Your enemies destroyed,
Play in safety.
 
And the other text says:
 
UTERE FELIX VIVAS
 
Or:
 
Have a happy life.
 
The fact that the defeat of Picts (a tribe in northern Britannia) is mentioned means that there is some connection with Britain. Maybe a soldier had it made when serving in Britannia and was restationed in what is now Germany. It's story can only be guessed.
 
Either way, step into the past with our Roman pyrgus from Vetweiss-Froitzheim in Germany.
 
Assembly and PVA glue (not supplied) required.
 
Dice not included