Historical Impact
In addition, fidchell, as described in the legends, often has a mystical or divinatory aspect to it. Battles ebb and flow as a result of the ebb and flow of a game of fidchell, games play themselves, great events are decided on the outcome of a fidchell match, and so on. This supernatural aspect is not as clearly reflected in the tafl games.
There is clear archaeological and textual evidence that a tafl variant was played in Ireland in ancient times. What is not quite as certain is that this game was fidchell, as mentioned so often in myth and legend.
Read more about this topic: Irish Chess
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