Though familiar in the West for centuries, chess is thought to have originated in India during the Gupta Empire (c. 280–550 C.E.). Originally called chaturaṅge, the game migrated along trade routes, changing names, designs, and rules as different cultures adopted and expanded upon it. The name chess is thought to be derived from the English corruption of the Persian word shāh, meaning “king.” Made from sandstone and dating to approximately 700 C.E, the piece shown here could very well be the oldest known chess piece. Its square, two-pronged shape also resembles other known rooks (castles) from the early Islamic […]
