The Mysterious Roman Dodecahedron: Unraveling Its Secrets...

#mystery #history #ancient
The Roman dodecahedron is an ancient artifact that has puzzled historians and archaeologists for centuries. This mysterious object is made of bronze or brass and is shaped like a 12-sided polyhedron, hence its name. Despite its widespread occurrence across the Roman Empire, the exact purpose of the dodecahedron remains a mystery. In this video, we will explore the history and significance of this enigmatic object and try to uncover its intended use. Join us as we delve into the world of the Roman dodecahedron and uncover its secrets!

Attributions:
Dodecahedron picture:
Gallo-Roman Museum, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Roman Map:
User:Historicair um15:17, 13 August 2007 (UTC), CC BY-SA 3.0
Via Wikimedia Commons

[frontenac]

*You also could do without the not so background music.*

[jameslanning]

I'd think they were used like we use dice today.
It would explain why they were found with coin staches. And found in areas of leisure, like bathhouses.

[richardallday]

It is the original 'Swiss Army' multi-tool created by Gallic blacksmiths (ordered by Negotiatores/Roman arms merchants in conjunction w/ Roman Auxiliary troop arms officers) for of Auxiliary troop, polearm weapon shafts.
The Auxiliary troops used their own weapons which varied in size per tribe/region. See Quora (under my name) for full explanation

[boblegn]

I think it was used as a measuring device

[celticm]

Maybe fired from a catapult and made a terrifying noise to frighten the enemy, if not a shuttlecock for Giants.

[JohanLofgren-jcmh]

It must be the earliest example of overengineering if it was made as a knitting tool. Why not make one side, and of wood if that is the case then? 😂

[floridasurffishingjcaprice]

These mysterious objects could have been used as a 6 way corner support for temporary shelters.
The nubs would provide a secure lashing point. Easy to assemble and easy to break down.

[WilliamCooper-lf]

The Dodecahedron seems to have two functions, one is to serve as a Dice 🎲 piece, to get the answer to a prayer. Basically roll it and what hole is on top is the answer. The "casting of lots, " was a very popular method of resolving doubts and disputes and has been practiced by all ancient cultures. A super famous account of this behavior can be found in the story of Jonah, when the seamen cast lots to find out who God was angry with.

Secondly, these objects would make excellent Ciphers for coded messages.

If the holes are of different size all around, then each hole represents a pre-set message.

How it works: these would have been made in sets of at least two, but more could work just as flawlessly. Each hole would have a peg that precisely fits it and were probably made of a durable stone, like marble. To the untrained eye, they would appear as a good luck stone or talisman. These pegs would function in similar fashion to those used in the game called Battleship. A commander of an army group would have one exactly like another commander and each would have a key as to each holes message. Messages would be sent via the peg that fits the appropriate message hole. This way, the messenger hadn't a clue what the messages were and if caught by an enemy, no amount of torture could get the truth out, because the messenger is clueless as to what the peg means. To expand the amount of messages per Dodecahedron, painting the pegs with colors, adding stripes, or any graphic would be all that is necessary for an almost endless list of coded messages.

[lindafarnes]

Found around the Roman Empire but none in Italy. Found in coin hoards and in military contexts so most likely some piece of manly kit. Expensive to manufacture. My conclusion is that it has no actual use at all. It was an award of some sort for exemplary service to the empire. The military equvalent of an Oscar.

[Forgotten_Boy]

My superstitious Roman Catholic Aunt Maryann had these in her Staten Island home back in the 60's and 70's. I remember them clearly. She and my grandmother had large sunburst clocks and esoteric fixtures. They were obviously modern bronze reproductions, but still very cool

[robertagardner]

The many finds of these objects are found with coins. It may be possible that they are used for measuring coins from the many countries in the Roman empire. Just a thought?

[robertthurman]

They finally figured this out. The finger knitting was close. By weaving different sizes of cord or thread and running it through one of the holes to check the size, you would weave long multi thread cords. These would be used for anything. Bridles for horses, cords for satchels or bags, belts for clothes, rope, anything that needed a strong lightweight cord. This is why so many were found in military installations.

[marcionphilologos]

IMAGE OF THE WORLD SOUL, ACCORDING TO PLATO (ORIGINAL FORM).

[jasntrace]

Perhaps simply an identification ornament held by a member of a clan or guild or family when away from their hometown or city?

[palokros]

Not a mystery - going along the edges, we have to traverse the vertices of the dodecahedron so that we pass through each vertex only once returning to the vertex we departed. All peaks must be touched. The traversal of the vertices in the Roman logic game can be guided using a piece of thread, fixing it to the small spheres at the vertices of the dodecahedron to mark the path. (kind of Ancient Rubik's Cube, a logical game of the Romans). Hamilton-path, Graph Theory, Discrete Mathematics. Naturally, the design cast in bronze was a luxury item, common version was carved in solid wood and a nail driven into each vertex guiding the thread.

[palokros]

Hello, this was a logical game of the Romans, or Etruscans, a kind of Ancient Rubik's Cube. "Touch each little sphere once, and only once. Going along the edges, traverse the vertices of the dodecahedron so that we pass through each vertex only once returning to the vertex we departed. All peaks must be touched. The traversal of the vertices in the Roman logic game can be guided using a piece of thread, fixing it to the small spheres at the vertices of the dodecahedron to mark the path. In Discrete Mathematics it is called the Hamilton-path in Graph Theory, Naturally, the design cast in bronze was a luxury item, common version was carved in solid wood and a nail driven into each vertex guiding the thread. Nevertheless, it is a nice and creative idea to use it for knitting.

[neverlate]

I wonder if they could be used against calvary. It looks like it would be painful if stepped on by a horse.

[vizrgye]

They were used like spike strips for carts

[aboutmount]

Chinese know what they are and they got the idea from Rome. In Rome they were used tied to Leather Straps onto Flogs(Flagellums) used as whips for beating criminals and slaves. Some larger ones as you are showing were used on battle Flogs.

[rayberger]

I would guess that they are used to make rope, like ships rope, it is used for braiding the rope together, they can be found in different sizes because rope comes in different sizes.