dice

     Dice (the high-style English singular is "die") come in many forms. The bone of the ankle joint of sheep was often used from ancient times as a four-sided die (called an astragalus, or talus, or huckle bone, or knuckle bone). Six-sided dice artifacts are also very ancient. In fact, the English word "cube" comes from the Ancient Greek word "kubos", which also meant dice.
     "Loaded" dice have also been found in excavations of ancient sites.  These are dice which have been made to increase the chances of certain numbers appearing, by putting more weight in a certain part, in order to cheat.

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