Mehen

Mehen is an ancient Egyptian board game, dating back to the First Dynasty (c. 3100–2890 BCE). The game is named after the mythical serpent Mehen, which is depicted as a coiled serpent protecting the sun god Ra. The game's board is circular, resembling the coiled form of the serpent, and it features a central hole, which may represent the eye of the serpent or the sun. The game's objective and rules are not fully understood, but it is believed to have involved moving game pieces, possibly representing the sun's journey through the sky, along the serpent's coils. The game was often buried with the dead, indicating its ritual or religious significance. In Hebrew, the game is referred to as מֶהֶן (Mehen). In German, it is known as Mehen (Spiel), and in French, it is called Mehen (jeu). The game's exact rules and significance remain a subject of ongoing archaeological and historical research.