Definition & Meaning of "shatranj"

What is "shatranj"?

Shatranj is an ancient game from Persia that is considered the precursor to modern chess. Played on an 8x8 board, it involves two players, each with 16 pieces: a king, viziers, which are similar to queens, elephants, horses, chariots, and pawns. The goal is to checkmate the opponent's king, but the movement of the pieces differs from that of modern chess. For example, the vizier moves only one square diagonally, and the elephant moves two squares diagonally. Shatranj was played widely across the Islamic world and is believed to have influenced the development of chess as it spread to Europe.