The barrel game, also called the frog game, is a game of skill practiced in ancient Greece under the name of "breaking the pot", in fact it was played with amphoras in which flat pebbles were thrown. The Romans, after having invaded Greece, brought the principle of the game back to Rome where it was a great success.
Returning from their Mediterranean expedition, the Vikings brought the idea of this game back to Normandy. At that time, cider was stored in barrels and not in amphorae like Mediterranean wines, so the game of "breaking the pot" becomes quite simply "the game of Barrel". Brought back into fashion under Louis XIV with the name of "Greek game", it accompanies the French troops. The writer Scarron, describes it in his correspondence and is very amused.
