ἀστράγαλος Deriv. uncertain. one of the neck-vertebrae, Hom. the ball of the ankle joint, Lat. talus, Hdt., Theocr. pl. ἀστράγαλοι, dice or agame played with dice, Il., Hdt.:—they were at first made of knuckle-bones, and never had more than four flat sides, whereas the κύβοι had six. They played with four: the best throw (βόλος), when each die came differently, was called Ἀφροδίτη, Lat. jactus Veneris; the worst, when all came alike, κύων, Lat. canis.