Fidchell

Fidchell ( Old Irish [ fɪð ʲ çɛl ː ], also fidhcheall, fidceall, fitchneal or fithchill, neuirisch ficheall, Welsh gwyddbwyll [' gwiðbuiɬ ] ), meaning in both languages ​​" wood - sense" ( gwydd or fid = "wood", Pwyll or cíall = " mind " ), was a Celtic board game. the exact rules are unknown, a resemblance to the game of chess is assumed. It very often used to deal with armed conflicts in the form of a replacement plot. The precise control of the game was one of the 34 essential skills of a young nobleman.

A probably very similar game is the Nordic Hnefatafl or king Zabel.

Game board and playing pieces

After a description of the pieces had below a small pin, which could be inserted into corresponding holes in the board, similar to our current travel chess set.

At the National Museum of Ireland ( Dublin), such a game board for Fidchell is kept. It is made ​​of wood, has on two opposite sides a designed as a stylized human head and a handle provided with various Schnitzmustern edge. The "fields" are marked by 7x7 holes, the midfield is characterized by a double circle, each corner square by a quarter circle ..

Mythology

Fidchell ( " The bark robbery of Cooley " Táin Bó eg in Cuailnge, ) is in Irish sagas often played by the mythical kings and heroes. King Conchobar mac Nessa of Ulster was by intellectual (Tabu ) is obliged to spend one-third of the day when fidchell.

In Welsh Satire Breuddwyd Rhonabwy ( " Rhonabwys dream "). gwyddbwyll plays an important role in the dispute between King Arthur and Owein fab Urien.

Also in Breuddwyd Macsen ( " Macsens dream " ) is played with clear in silver board and golden pieces. In Peredur fab Efrawg ( " Peredur, Efrawgs son " ), the characters come to life in a deserted hall and play against each other (see live chess).