Nine Men's Morris (adapted here as Nine Cats' Morris) is one of the oldest strategy board games in human history, played across centuries and continents.
Ancient Origins & Who Played It
The game is incredibly ancient. The earliest known board is carved into the roofing slabs of an Egyptian temple at Kurna, dating to approximately 1440 BCE. It was widely played throughout the Roman Empire by soldiers and civilians, and boards have been excavated at Bronze Age sites in Ireland, ancient Troy, and even on Viking ships (such as the Gokstad ship in Norway).
Origin of the Name
The word "Morris" is believed to derive from the Latin word merellus, meaning a "gaming piece" or "counter," which evolved into "merels," "merrells," and eventually "morris." The specific name "Nine Men's Morris" was famously popularized in English literature by William Shakespeare in his play A Midsummer Night's Dream (Act II, Scene 1), where Titania laments: "The nine men's morris is fill'd up with mud."
How We Know the Rules
We know the rules through medieval manuscripts recording board game instructions, most notably the Libro de los Juegos (Book of Games), commissioned by King Alfonso X of Castile in 1283. Archaeological discoveries of boards scratched into tavern tables, cathedral benches, and monastery pews also confirm how the game was played throughout medieval Europe. Over centuries, the game was passed down continuously, surviving under names like "Merrills" and "Cowboy Checkers."
