Par Impar Ludĕre
(
ἀρτιασμός, ἄρτια ἢ περιττὰ παίζειν, ζυγὰ ἢ ἀζυγὰ
παίζειν, ζυγὰ μόνα παίζειν, or
ποσίνδα). The
game of “odd or even,” much played by both Greeks and Romans. A person
held in his hand a number of dice, nuts, coins, or other objects, and his opponent guessed
whether the number of them was odd or even. The amount won or lost was either the objects
themselves or a sum of money staked upon the guess (Pollux, ix. 101;
Apollon.iii. 115;
Plut. 816; Becker-Göll,
Gallus, iii. 477).