Shift the Spheres to Form a Triangle in the Ruins of the PyramidsA fun and easy to learn game in which a winning triangle pattern is formed by moving balls along passages under the Great Pyramids.
Quadtria is a casual, easily understood, yet compelling game, where strategy shifts like desert sand and a watchful initiative is essential.
Background:
In 1834, German archaeologists working in Egypt found a clay tablet in the Valley of the Kings, near the Cheops Pyramid. They could not comprehend the significance of the mysterious inscription on the tablet:
""HEAR YOU SERVANTS OF THE TEMPLE OF PTOLEMY. THE BARBARIAN FOOT SHALL NEVER DESECRATE THIS GRAVE. HERE RESTS THE EYE OF THE GODS, THE LIGHT AND THE DEATH. PUSHING THE SPHERES, YOU WILL WIN…""
At this point, the text ends abruptly. To decipher the inscription, they took the clay tablet along with their other finds back to Berlin. However, the tablet and some of the other artifacts soon fell into oblivion.
It was only 30 years later that a young archaeology student spotted the tablet and its inscription lying between old statues and earthenware vessels in a storeroom of the Museum of Egyptology. Fascinated and strangely charmed by the puzzling designs on the inscription, he began the painstaking work of deciphering their meaning.
The inscription dated from the time of the Roman occupation in Egypt, about 127 B.C., and was ascribed to a temple priest named Haremheb. It contained indistinct instructions and sketches on how the 3 entrances to the kings' pyramids could -- in the case of invasion by Roman occupiers -- be closed forever to the eyes of curious desecraters of the temple. The stone spheres were probably moved to the three entrances of each pyramid through underground passages.
The young scientist also found a supplement on the clay tablet written in Latin. This had obviously been added by a Roman soldier. The translated text reads:
""EVEN THE GODS ARE POWERLESS AGAINST QUADTRIA.""
You are now invited to pick up Haremheb's hint. Come down with us into the deep winding passages of the Kings Pyramids and decipher the mystery of Quadtria.
- Attractive wooden game board and game pieces.
- Easy to learn rules – novices can learn the game and be playing within five minutes.
- 2-player strategy game of ""perfect information."" That is, all moves available to both sides are known by both players – there are no ""randomizing"" elements such as cards or dice.
- Best suited for casual play, especially good for younger players.
- The player moving first does not have a substantial advantage.