Dikranagerdtsi Vernacular Handbook: Toroká

Knucklebones

           Sheep anklebone

Sheep knucklebones are believed to be the forerunners of dice. Peoples of all nations who herded sheep devised games to play with the anklebone, or astragal. Armenians also traditionally made up games to play with the knucklebone which they call vek, and as a game vikakhagh, the Turkish equivalents of which are ashuk, and ashuk oyunu. The Dikranagerdtsis called the knucklebone jan, and with it played a game called Torokà, that is of unusual interest, and which will be described below.

Torokà is usually played by young boys with one jan which has names for each of the four sides, excluding the two rounded ends. They are Sofi (Sufi or Wise), Bag (Beg or Lord), Esh (Donkey), and Kogh (Thief). The players commence throwing the jan, and the side that faces up determines what role each will play. They keep throwing the jan until all four positions have been assigned, after which the Thief suffers a penalty which consists of raps on the knuckles or palm of the hand with a twisted handkerchief or towel in which a soft substance has been placed. The penalty is delivered by the Esh. The Bag determines the number of strokes. The Sofi gets a pass. In the illustration above, the top side is the Bag, the bottom is the Esh, the near side is the Kogh, and the far side is the Sofi. (Compliments of Aram Khatchadourian)

Roman statue of girl playing

with astragal