Found in mysterious circumstances on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides in 1831, the twelfth-century Lewis chessmen have captivated audiences around the world ever since. They were concealed in a stone chamber within a sand dune for reasons that will never be known.

Their enduring appeal has secured their position as the most celebrated chess pieces in the world, a fame that was reinforced recently by a marvellous scene in the film Harry Potter and the Philosopher's
Stone(tm) (Warner Bros. 2001), In the Great Hall of Hogwarts, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley familiarize themselves with the game of wizard chess. For this scene, the filmmakers used a replica set of the Lewis chessmen.

The red and white set featured in the film reflects the original colouration of the pieces. However, the fragile dye that stained them has long ago disappeared. The beautifully carved kings, queens, bishops, knights and foot soldiers (rooks) have frequently been associated in the popular imagination with the forces of magic. The earliest accounts of their discovery invoke images of faerie folk, sprites and goblins.

Chess is a war game that originated in India in around the sixth century AD; from its inception, it was used to refine strategic thinking on the battlefield. Stories of famous chess games where the stakes were high were circulated throughout India, Persia and medieval Europe. In these stories, kingdoms were lost and young princes or knights stood to lose their lives if they failed to win the game.



Harry Potter chess set
http://www.britishmuseum.co.uk/Product.aspx?ID=1114

5 piece set
http://www.britishmuseum.co.uk/product.aspx?ID=1115

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