ἀστράγαλος

1. one of the neck-vertebrae , (Homer)

2. the ball of the ankle joint , Lat. talus, (Herdotus Historicus)

3. plural ἀστράγαλοι, dice or agame played with dice , (Iliad by Homer):—;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. (ML)