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Egyptians

Egyptians Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

  • Object of the Game
  • Setting Up the Game
  • Playing the Game
  • The Squares and Cards
    • Start Square
    • Oasis Square
    • Barter Square
    • Battle Square
    • Question/Action Cards
    • Roll Again Square
    • Pharaoh Cards
    • Pyramid Squares
  • Winner
  • The Pharaoh Cards
  • Game Variations
  • Egyptian Hieroglyphs
  • Whose Head Is It?

Object of the Game

The object of the game is to become Supreme Pharaoh by collecting a full set of Pharaoh cards and safely entombing them in your pyramid.

Setting Up the Game

  • Each player chooses a camel and places it on the camel "Start" square.
  • Shuffle and place the "Question/Action" cards face down in the relevant box on the board.
  • Shuffle and place the "Pharaoh" cards face down in the relevant box on the board.
  • Each player assembles a Pyramid and puts it in front of them.
  • Each player takes 3 Pharaoh cards from the top of the pile.

Playing the Game

The youngest player goes first. Throw the die and move forward the indicated number of spaces. Depending on the square you land on, either pick up the relevant card or carry out the instruction indicated. It is then the next player's turn. Play continues in a clockwise direction.

The Squares and Cards

Start Square

Each time you pass through the "Start" square, pick up a Pharaoh card.

Oasis Square

This is a resting place for weary camels; no action is required.

Barter Square

If you land on this square you can exchange any of your Pharaoh cards with the Pharaoh cards of a player of your choice. You do not have to barter if you do not want to, and you can barter as many cards as you wish.

To barter, choose whom you would like to barter with, choose how many cards you wish to barter, and exchange cards with your opponent. Your opponent must have the same number of cards to exchange. Don't forget, the skill is to stop other players collecting their six Pharaoh cards!

Please note: Neither player shows what is on the cards they are bartering.

Battle Square

You do not have to battle if you do not want to. If you wish to battle, choose the player and the number of Pharaoh cards you wish to battle with. The player chosen to "battle" must then match the same number of Pharaoh cards as you have placed on the board. Roll the die; the player who throws the highest number on the die is the winner of the battle and gets the Pharaoh cards placed down by both players. If the number thrown is the same, the die is thrown until a result is achieved.

Please note: Neither player shows what is on the cards they are battling with.

Question/Action Cards

If it is a question card, another player asks you a question of their choice from the card. If you answer the question correctly you move forward one space. If you answer the question incorrectly, stay on the square until your next go. If it is an Action card, follow the instructions on it.

Please note: The questions are graded in difficulty. The first question is for younger children and will usually require a yes or no answer. Please use your discretion in choosing the question.

Roll Again Square

If you land on this square you have another turn.

Pharaoh Cards

These consist of the following six different cards: Soldier, Priest, Artisan, Supplies, Musician and Blessing of Ra.

If the Pharaoh cards run out, players return all their cards that are not securely entombed in their pyramid back to the playing board, face down.

Pyramid Squares

If you land on this square you are allowed to put one Pharaoh card, face down (so no one else can see what it is!), into your pyramid, where it will be entombed for safekeeping. Once a card is in your Pyramid it is safe and it cannot be used in battle or bartering.

Winner

The winner is the first player to safely entomb the six different Pharaoh cards in their Pyramid and return to the start square, where they attempt to throw an even number to move to the Ra symbol in the middle of the board to receive Ra's blessing and win the game.

Please note: Players do not have to roll the exact number to land on the start square.

The Pharaoh Cards

The six Pharaoh cards are: Artisan, Music, Priest, Blessing of Ra, Soldier and Supplies.

Game Variations

  • Players over 15 do not have to receive a Pharaoh card when they pass "Start".
  • Players under 8 do not have to answer the questions unless they want to.
  • If you are playing with a well-travelled Egyptologist, do not provide the multiple choice answers to the questions.

Egyptian Hieroglyphs

The board's hieroglyph symbols and their letter values:

SymbolValue
WaterN
Reed FlowerI
SnakeDJ
Quail ChickW
BasketK
Animal StomachVentre
CourtyardH
Horned ViperF
TetherTH
HousePR
HillsideQ
PlacentaKH
Mat

Whose Head Is It?

Reference table of the Egyptian gods, their head types and their jobs:

GodType of HeadJob
AnubisJackalTo preserve and glorify all the dead.
HapiBaboonProtector of the lungs of the deceased.
KhnumRamFashioning human beings on his pottery wheel.
HorusFalconRuler of the living.
ThothIbisGod of knowledge and patron of scribes.
BastetCatGoddess of home, motherhood and fertility.
TaweretHippopotamusProtector of mothers and babies.
SebekCrocodileRuler of the water.
P
MouthR
FootB
Door BoltZ
ArmA
Folded ClothS
Pot StandG
BreadT
OwlM
Flax RopeH
HandD
EagleA