Nut plays

The play with nuts was practiced in the ancient Rome, similar to the set of balls of modern time. Suétone reports that Auguste liked to be rested while playing with children " with the ossicles and the noix".

Rules

The child upright made fall the nuts from only one blow, or laid down aims at them finger once or twice: all the chance is placed on four nuts, not more, one being added to three others placed below it. Others reduce a nut on an inclined level, they try to make him touch one of those which are with ground. The nuts are also used with the play as par and of odd and it is the omen which empoche richnesses that he guessed!

Sometimes also with chalk, they trace the constellation of the Delta, which is also the fourth letter of the Greeks and cross it by a certain number of lines: each one throws a rod and carries as much nut than the place indicates it where it stopped. Often also they place at some distance a hollow vase where must fall a nut sent with a light hand.

Where to find the rules

Ovide, the walnut tree (Nux), v. 73-86, In Néraudeau, Being child in Rome

Expression

The Latin expression nuces relinquere (“to cease playing nuts”) means “to give up the plays of childhood”.

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