When was billiards first played?

Though the origin of billiards is lost in history, an account by Greek traveller Anacharsis suggests that a rudimentary version was played by Egyptians around 400 BC. This form was adopted by the Greeks. The word ‘billiard’ has its roots in the French words ‘billart’ meaning stick, and ‘bille’ meaning ball. In 1470, the first billiards table was found among the possessions of French king Louis XI. The earliest record of how the game was played was made in the 15th century. It started as an indoor version of croquet. The Spaniards introduced billiards to the Americans in 1565. Shakespeare’s use of the word ‘billiards’ in his play Anthony and Cleopatra shows that this sport was well known to the Elizabethans.