«The chess rook from Lida Castle is an example of bone-carving craftsmanship, executed in an abstract symbolic style. The upper design, showcasing the distinct wings of the Roc — a mythical giant bird from Arabian folklore and ancient travel lore — clearly indicates that this artifact is a rook. The medieval artisan blended the traditional Eastern piece with the Russian boat-shaped rook. The artifact proves not only that intellectual games were a part of life at Lida Castle, but also that our ancestors practiced the art of bone carving,» the museum said.

Experts believe the rook was carved from a moose antler, noting that its width was ideal for crafting a piece of this scale.

These crystal rooks, recreating the design of the original artifact, will serve as prizes for winners of competitions hosted by the museum staff and will become a key symbol of the Lida Historical and Art Museum. The first prizes of this kind have already been presented to the winners of the Lida Castle Rook chess tournament, which drew over 30 amateur players from Grodno Oblast.

Both the original medieval artifact and its crystal replica are currently on display at the museum’s exhibitions.