I'm sure this connection has been made before but if we assume that the idea of backgammon is a metaphor for the series than I think we can draw interesting conclusions. For instance, one of the precursors to the game of backgammon is the ancient Egyptian game of senet. There's not a lot of information on the game of senet but I could find some interesting things about it.
For instance, their are two sides and each side has anywhere from 5-7 players. Now senet developed some really deep religious connotations and basically came to represent the journey of its players from death to "rebirth" if you will. Each senet board had some important squares which either helped or hurt the players and I think that these squares could correspond with the all six seasons of Lost:
House of Thoth: This squares represented Thoth who announced the arrival of the deceased into the court of judgement. Season 1 the arrival of the flight.
House of repeating life: Represented the players continued lives after death. Season 2.
House of Netting: Represented the sinners, enemies of Ra, who were entangled in executioners nets and tortured. Season 3.
House of rejuvenation: Referred to a mummy workshop where the body was prepared for burial and eternal life. Season 5 with John Locke.
Waters of Chaos: These represented the deceased getting on a bark setting out for the dawn. Anyone that was deemed unworthy drowned in the waters. Season 4.
House of the Sun God: This was the final square and was basically there to describe the players journey out of the netherworld and union with Ra. Season 6.
Now I know some of these are a stretch but I think its interesting that we've season all this Egyptian imagery and we know that backgammon is an important part of the show. There's some more interesting things about senet on the internet.
For instance, their are two sides and each side has anywhere from 5-7 players. Now senet developed some really deep religious connotations and basically came to represent the journey of its players from death to "rebirth" if you will. Each senet board had some important squares which either helped or hurt the players and I think that these squares could correspond with the all six seasons of Lost:
House of Thoth: This squares represented Thoth who announced the arrival of the deceased into the court of judgement. Season 1 the arrival of the flight.
House of repeating life: Represented the players continued lives after death. Season 2.
House of Netting: Represented the sinners, enemies of Ra, who were entangled in executioners nets and tortured. Season 3.
House of rejuvenation: Referred to a mummy workshop where the body was prepared for burial and eternal life. Season 5 with John Locke.
Waters of Chaos: These represented the deceased getting on a bark setting out for the dawn. Anyone that was deemed unworthy drowned in the waters. Season 4.
House of the Sun God: This was the final square and was basically there to describe the players journey out of the netherworld and union with Ra. Season 6.
Now I know some of these are a stretch but I think its interesting that we've season all this Egyptian imagery and we know that backgammon is an important part of the show. There's some more interesting things about senet on the internet.
