Wizard Chess?

I was watching yet another archeology feature on ABC last night (I was on an archeology marathon the whole weekend), and this was the first time I've heard of the Lewis Chessmen.


The Lewis Chessmen, British Museum

The Lewis Chessmen refer to the 93 elaborately carved chess pieces found in the Isle of Lewis in Scotland in 1831. These pieces are made from walrus tusks and whales' teeth, carved into queens and kings seated on thrones; bishops; and knights on steeds. The rook was not represented as a castle, but as yet another human figure. It is said that the 93 pieces found represent at least 4 sets of chessmen, so the speculation is that they belonged to a merchant. Some of the pieces were also stained red, so they probably played red vs white.

What I found so striking about the pieces was that they looked a lot like the wizard chess figures used in the "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" movie (Ron vs Harry in the Great Hall during Christmas break, not giant wizard chess), down to the Queen who stood up, and hit another chess piece using her throne (this scene was incidentally mentioned in the documentary). I think the design may have actually been based on these artifacts. Cool. :)

More info on the Lewis Chessmen here.

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The production of The Chronicles of Narnia is into full swing now, and it looks promising. Can't wait. Which reminds me... I think I'd better catch up and read the rest of the series. :D

They've come up with really cool banners. You can view them all here.

.:chronicled by senator skywalker at 6:41:00 PM:.
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