(ἀστράγαλος; astrágalos).
[2] Playing-piece
Playing-piece (talus). Knucklebones from calves and sheep/goats, also those made of gold, glass, marble, clay, metals and ivory, mentioned already in Hom. Il. 23,85-88 as playing-pieces. Astragaloi were used as counters for games of chance, dice and throwing games, including the games ‘odd or even’ (Pl. Ly. 206e) or πεντάλιθα (pentálitha, Games of dexterity). In …