Abridged from Harpokration s.v.; the headword, there and again here, is accusative plural.
The entry originated in ancient comment on
Aeschines 1.59 (web address 1). There is a helpful note on the
Aeschines passage in the Loeb edition; see also LSJ s.v.
a)kakou/rghtos (web address 2).
Dice were, from an unknown time onwards, shaken and thrown from a "tower" (
pu/rgos:
Greek Anthology 9.373; cf.
tau 7,
pi 1384), fluted in such a way as to prevent any attempt to cheat in throwing (Martial 14.16). At least some players threw their dice from above their heads (
Greek Anthology 5.24; cf.
kappa 2602 note [4]), perhaps in allusion to the gods above and the proverb, "For only the dice of a god always fall well" (
Sophocles fr. 895P = 809N; cf.
alpha 607).