Being some of the oldest and most fascinating games in history, dice games have had many other purposes besides gambling and game playing. The games have been used for areas like magic and fortune telling, too. In fact, using the dice was a very popular method for predicting the future of certain events in the ancient years, and this method is still used in some areas today.

An Ancient Practice

Dice have long held an appeal for many people because their outcome can be so varied. While the outcomes can be determined from a mathematical standpoint, the air of chance that surrounds a die can hold a very special allure for many people.

For hundreds of years, dice have been used to predict future events and also to interpret the will of the gods. Dice were even in use before other popular methods came into being like tarot cards and astrology.

Cleromancy

“Cleromancy” is the term given to the practice of casting dice or other small objects as lots, which is another way for attempting to predict the future. Different cultures have used this ancient practice for hundreds of years, from the Hindu culture to the African “witch doctors” of famous lore.

Dice were also used in the cultures of Egypt and Rome in order to divine the will of the gods. Dice called rune dice were given special markings and symbols that stood for certain events. The outcome of the dice could then be used to divine what would happen with those events. While dice made from bone or ivory were said to be the most receptive, even plastic dice can continue to be used for these purposes.

Diving the Numbers

The number the dice would add up to upon landing was given a meaning. For example, a total of nine would mean a marriage or future union for the person, while a six would mean a loss, usually of money or something else more general. A roll of four would mean an argument was impending.

Dice are popularly used today for certain magic tricks like mind reading and guessing, as well as other types of magic tricks. Dice have also long been associated with superstitions, and good and bad portents, so it makes sense that dice would have a long history with fortune telling and magic tricks.