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Evidence for Seega
3 pieces of evidence found.
Id DLP.Evidence.789
Type Ethnography
Location Modern Egypt
Date 1825-01-01 - 1833-12-31
Rules 5x5, 7x7, or 9x9 board. Players begin by placing their pieces in prescribed spaces, and then alternating two-by-two in places as they see fit, except for the central space. Once all the spaces except the central one are filled, the first player moves a piece one space orthogonally to the empty space. Pieces are captured by surrounding them on either side by a player's own pieces. Multiple captures are allowed. The player to capture all of the opponent's pieces wins.
Content "Many of the felláheen of Egypt also frequently amuse themselves with a game called that of the " seega," which may be described in a few words. The seega employed in this game is different from that of the táb: it consists of a number of holes, generally made in the ground; most commonly, of five rows of five holes in each, or seven rows of seven in each, or nine rows of nine in each: the first kind is called the "khamsáwee seega ; " the second, the "seb'áwee ; " and the
third, the "tis'áwee."
A khamsáwee seega is here represented. The holes are called '"oyoon ''(or eyes, in the singular cc 'eyn "). In this seega, they are twenty-five in number. The players have each twelve "kelbs," similar to those used in the game of the tab.2, One of them places two of his kelbs in the 'eyns marked a, a : the other puts two of his in those marked 6, 6 : they then alternately place two kelbs in any of the 'eyns that they may choose, except the central 'eyn of the seega. All the 'eyns but the central one being thus occupied (most of the kelbs placed at random), the game is commenced. The party who begins moves one of his kelbs from a contiguous 'eyn into the central. The other party, if the 'eyn now made vacant be not next to any one of those occupied by his kelbs, desires his adversary to give him, or open to him, a way ; and the latter must do so, by removing, and thus losing, one of his own kelbs. This is also done on subsequent occasions, when required by similar circumstances. The aim of each party, after the first disposal of the kelbs, is to place any one of his kelbs in such a situation that there shall be, between it and another of his, one of his adversary's kelbs. This, by so doing, he takes ; and as long as he can immediately make another capture by such means, he does so, without allowing his adversary to move. --These are the only rules of the game. It will be remarked that, though most of the kelbs .are placed at random, foresight is requisite in the disposal of the remainder.-Several seegas have been cut upon the stones on the summit of the Great
Pyramid, by Arabs who have served as guides to travellers." Lane 1836: 356-357.
Confidence 100
Source Lane, E. W. 1836. An Account of the Manners and Customs of the Modern Egyptians. London: John Murray.
Id DLP.Evidence.869
Type Ethnography
Location Sudan
Date 1925-01-01 - 1925-12-31
Rules 5x5 board, players take turns placing pieces two-by-two, moves orthogonally, custodial capture, win by capturing all opponent's pieces.
Content "1. Sija. this is not specially a nomad Arab game—in fact, it is more commonly played in towns than in the desert—but it seems to be a basic game, widely known in Africa, from which local variants are derived. It is played on a board of twenty-five squares (I.e. five rows of five hollows scooped in the sand), each player having twelve counters known as dogs (I.e. twelve pieces of stone for one player and twelve pieces of brick, or other distinguishable matter, for the other). The counters are not set out on the board in a predesignated order, but the player who wins the toss places two "dogs" where he likes, the only restriction being that the middle square of the board must be left vacant. His opponent then "throws" two counters into any unoccupied squares other than the middle one, and so on, alternately, until the board, except for the middle square, is full, as shown in the diagram. This "throwing" is of course done with an eye to the succeeding play and is important as the deal at Bridge. Play is continued by the winner of the toss moving one of his counters into the middle square. If, thereby, he can bring one of his opponent's "dogs" between two of his own, he "eats" it, I.e. removes it from the board. In the diagram, as shown, by moving the coutner ) to the middle square, the player "eats" both X1 and X2. His opponent then moves, "eating" or not, as he is able, and so on, alternately, until one has completely destroyed the "dogs" of the other and is therefore the winner. "Dogs" do not move, or eat, diagonally but only along ranks and files." Davies 1925: 138–139.
Confidence 100
Source Davies, R. 1925. 'Some Arab Games and Puzzles.' Sudan Notes and Records. 8: 137–152.
Id DLP.Evidence.870
Type Ethnography
Location 28°33'21.42"N, 33°58'33.76"E
Date 1890-01-01 - 1890-12-31
Rules 5x5 board, players place pieces alternately two-by-two, pieces move orthogonally, custodial capture, win by capturing all the opponent's pieces
Content "While in camp at the Monastery of St Catherine, Mt. Sinai, I observed Bedouins and Egyptians playing a game with black and white pebbles in the sand...The called the game "Seegà," and the pebbles kelb; they played in holes in the sand, but it can be played as well on a common board rules with twenty-five squares...[goes on to describe rules as attested in other sources]." Bolton 1890.
Confidence 100
Source Bolton, H. 1890. 'Seegà, an Egyptian Game.' Journal of American Folklore 3(9):132–134.
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