Page:The Pacific Monthly volume 4.djvu/64



The latest excavations on the pyramid field of Sakkara have led to an extraordinary discovery as to the origin of chess. Hitherto it was asumed that the ancient Indians had invented the game. That it was introduced from India to Persia in the sixth century, and that by the Arabs, in consequence of the Crusades it spread from east to west. This theory was substantiated by the fact that an Indian, Persian and Arabic influence is traceable in the character of the figures at present used, and in some of the words connected with the game, such as "shah" (check) and "matt" (mate). Now, north of the pyramid of King Tetu or Teti, two grave chambers have been discovered, which were erected by two high officials of that ruler. Their names were Kabin and Mernker, called Mera. The grave-chamber ("mastaba") of the former consisted of five rooms, built up with limestone. Its walls are covered with exceedingly well-preserved bas-reliefs and pictures reprfjistnting various scenes. The other grave-chamber,' that of Mera, is the mosT valuable. Up to now no fewer than twenty- seven halls and corridors have been uncover- ed. There are beautiful grave-columns; in the chief room there is in a niche a tinted statute of the departed, about seven feet high, with a sacrificial table of alabaster be- fore it. Among the many wall-paintings in this and other rooms, hunting and fishing scenes, a group of female mourners, the three seasons, Mera and his sons, holding each other by the hand, and Mera playin;? chess, are to be seen. King Tetu belonged to the sixth dynasty, and his reign was as- signed by Professor Lepsius to about the year 2700 B. C. Professor Brugsch, correct- ing this chronology, puts it back to still greater antiquity, namely, the year 3300 B. C, so that chess would have been known in the once mysterious land of Mizraim some- thing like 5,200 years ago. — British Chess

Magazine.



A Great Problem.

Until the solution was shown them, somo of the great chess experts pronounced this problem unsound. It holds probably the highest rank among chess problems, and is the work of Joel Fridlizins, of Sweden. It is a marvel. The solution will be published in a subsequent number.

WHITE— K on K B 2; Q on KR8; B on Q B 4; Kts on K 3 and 7; R on Q Kt 4: Ps on K 2 and Q B 7.— Eight Pieces.

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