What is this thing? @lemmy.world outer_spec @lemmy.blahaj.zone 4mo ago

Saw these weird statue-like things in a parking lot

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Those are pieces of an onyx chess set. I used to have that exact set. Here's an example from ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/276268677793?itmmeta=01HQGDMT5HNWBF8YNWTDN1Q1D5
- Amazing. 4 minute answer for something very specific. Truly incredible.
  
  Damn, I thought they were dalek's
  
  Sign of Lemmy gaining traction.
  
  I had it immediately as well, just clicked to see if my answer was needed. I still have the set in a box somewhere.
  
  Yeah, this new AI is getting better and better!
- Beat me to it, I had/have a similar set my parents got me on a work trip back in the 90s
  
  I assumed they were chess pieces. Don't have this set, never seen it before, but glad my instincts were right.
- Now the question remains… what are they doing in a parking lot. And only some of them.
  
  Chess 2.0 won't need them. OP missed it's inventor by mere minutes.
- Same. I think I got it on a spring break in Mexico. I vaguely remember quite a few people having them.
- I wonder what would be future historians' guess as to what those are/were, 2000+ years in a future where a "great loss of knowledge" happened.
  
  We've worked out ancient gaming pieces, and sometimes been able to figure out rules for long dead games.
  
  Something something "fertility ritual", most likely.
- Someone with anger issues just have lost their game
- Yep, it was/is a popular style of chess set pieces in Central America/Mexico ostensibly mostly for tourists.
  
  Had a marble/onyx set that likewise, my folks got in Mexico before I was born. My grandma cast a replacement pawn out of plastic when one broke so we always had this super lightweight and off color pawn.
- I also have the exact same set. Black and white.
Thought they were chess pieces and was pleasantly surprised to see someone confirmed it
- I have this chess set.
  
  I had it as a kid. Mexican souvenir set of onyx.
- I was thinking ancient dalic chess peices
- Yea. That was my first reaction too.
They are chess pieces, and this image pains me. I have this set and am missing the pawn in the center of the picture.
- OP, we need some GPS coordinates over here.
- I'd get some soapstone and carve one, they look pretty rudimentary. Even a bumblefuck like me could manage it.
I spilled chess pieces all over myself while in the parking lot getting in my car & a black teenager shouted "This brother playin' chess!" And everybody laughed.
- holy hell
Chess pieces made out of stone. Stone is not recyclable or biodegradable or compostable. If you throw them in the landfill they will be there for millions of years. This is a pretty minor spill though.
- It's really disgusting how people just toss their old used stones out into the wilderness like they're just rocks or something... Smh damn litterbugs
  
  And now we've got microstone pollution everywhere 😔 such a shame
I have this exact same chess set made out of stone. My father brought it back to the U.S. after visiting Guatemala where He and my Mother adopted my sister.
It's remains of an ancient fort, for ants
I guess I just miss my friend…
- How can you be so obtuse?!
Windom Earle has been here
In Smalland, those can net you some decent armor.
Thanks for the answers! I went back to the parking lot this morning and brought them home.

54 comments