Cup and Ball
The oldest magic trick in the world — small balls vanish and reappear under three inverted cups as the magician's hands blur.
What is Cup and Ball?
The Cups and Balls is often called the oldest magic trick in the world, depicted in the tomb of Beni Hasan (c. 2500 BCE). A magician uses three cups and small balls (traditionally cork; today sponge or wooden) to make them vanish, reappear, multiply and transform under the cups. Every serious close-up magician learns it — the FISM World Championship still crowns close-up champions on Cups & Balls routines. Not to be confused with the con-game shell game.
Quick facts
Category
Party Games
Type
Individual
Players
1–1
Where played
both
Country of origin
🇪🇬 Egypt
Estimated origin
Ancient Egypt (Beni Hasan tomb paintings c. 2500 BCE) — the oldest documented magic trick
Olympic
No
Popularity
global