Artworks Shine Light on Backgammon History

Popular backgammon is the way that the game has been enjoyed in cultures and countries through the ages. Backgammon mostly appears in popular culture through literature, although there are several important works of art, which provide an interesting perspective to backgammon history. Two of these works are "The Garden of Earthly Delights" by Hieronymous Bosch and "The Triumph of Death" by Peter Bruegel.

Bosch's work presents backgammon in art through a Gothic medium. Bosch was always considered an eccentric and 'alternative' painter of his time and it is interesting to see how he has depicted the backgammon board in his painting. By examining this painting, we can see another side of backgammon history within that era.

The other painting that represents popular backgammon imagery is Bruegel's Renaissance work. Bruegel was known to have being a follower of Bosch's work and we can see a similarity between the messages and styles conveyed in these works. In both cases, it is obvious that backgammon is considered on par with the devil. Throughout backgammon history, there have always been those who have opposed its 'sinful' gambling nature. These two paintings are just two examples of this idea. While there are many other depictions of backgammon history in literature, there is not much to find in works of art.