Highest roll in the Ancient Roman gambling game of tali
The Venus Throw was the highest roll in the Ancient Roman gambling game of "tali" (knucklebones). The game was played with four 4-sided rectangular dice numbered I, III, IV and VI, usually made from sheep's or goat's knucklebones. In a Venus Throw, each "talus" landed on a different side, yielding as a score of 14. A gambler would either throw the "tali" from his or her hand, or from a small box, (called a "fritillus"). Thirty-five different throws were possible. While the Venus throw was the highest, the Vulture throw (all aces)—also known as the Dog throw —was the lowest. The Venus throw could be used to designate the master of the revels.