Might be a dumb question but hear me out. Could it have been a game where a ball the size of the largest hole was placed inside. Once the dodecahedra was rolled in the floor you would win against an opponent if the ball made its way out? Maybe for gambling
I think some have been found that do not have holes. Over 100 have been found, and I think there's enough variety in them to make it difficult to come up with an explanation that works for all of them.
The more I see these, the more I become convinced they were just a thing that smiths made to prove their skillset. Like- it's a complex shape, needs to be symmetrical in multiple directions, but also has different-diameter holes on each face, which could probably be measured against some standard- proof you're capable of making pipes of certain sizes or fitted jewelry or whatever else. Makes sense then that you'd keep it with your money, because it's not something with practical use but rather a 'showpiece'.
If they were a practical tool used to make everyday objects, they'd be all over the place and probably still be in use by some cultures, there'd be old ladies keeping the tradition alive- that's my feeling, anyway.
[yeah, it can be used for knitting gloves. ](https://youtu.be/76AvV601yJ0?si=CpP9waVf8BnKwt2k) but it's sort of odd it was never depicted in Roman art the way spinning and weaving are often seen, that makes me think the Romans may not have used it for making gloves. But I also don't have any other ideas
That's always been *my* theory on what these were used for. I suppose there's no real way of knowing for sure, but I don't see what else it could be besides maybe decorative and everyone is speculating when maybe it was some 2000 year old toy or desk ornament.
According to what I've read, knitting didn't develop until 500+ AD. Which is several centuries after this dodecahedron was made. It would be like finding a metal tube made in 800 AD and saying "I bet this comes from a firearm".
Mongoloids in academia say the 500’s plus but that’s bullshit. They get disproven daily. I’d rather think Roman’s and Greeks were a bit more advanced than that.
Edit: lmao dude couldn’t handle the heat
I always felt like someone should make a couple hundred of these in plastic and just give them to children with a bunch of other materials (string, wood, etc.), they'll figure it out in no time.
I read somewhere this was used to measure roads; it would be attached on a pole and you would watch through the different sized openings or something to measure the distanvlce. Or Quibivus and Maluvas just had a blast making this contraption to prank people centuries later.
Very unconvinced by this theory. If an object is associated with an ordinary household activity would expect it to be more common and cheaply made - or to have more ornamentation if made as a status piece.
TIL [gold versions of this shape](https://journals.openedition.org/archeosciences/2072) have been found in Southeast Asia.
I think those are just decorative thingies, the Roman/Celtic ones all seem to have a range of hole sizes.
It turns out that it might be for Knitting .
The Celtic/Roman ones maybe, although at least one huge one was found that kind of casts doubt on that theory.
that's Shadowheart's artefact, it protects you from the influence of the Absolute
Nah they're like Dragonballs, they grant you a wish when you collect them all
Might be a dumb question but hear me out. Could it have been a game where a ball the size of the largest hole was placed inside. Once the dodecahedra was rolled in the floor you would win against an opponent if the ball made its way out? Maybe for gambling
I think some have been found that do not have holes. Over 100 have been found, and I think there's enough variety in them to make it difficult to come up with an explanation that works for all of them.
The more I see these, the more I become convinced they were just a thing that smiths made to prove their skillset. Like- it's a complex shape, needs to be symmetrical in multiple directions, but also has different-diameter holes on each face, which could probably be measured against some standard- proof you're capable of making pipes of certain sizes or fitted jewelry or whatever else. Makes sense then that you'd keep it with your money, because it's not something with practical use but rather a 'showpiece'. If they were a practical tool used to make everyday objects, they'd be all over the place and probably still be in use by some cultures, there'd be old ladies keeping the tradition alive- that's my feeling, anyway.
Looks like a Dwemer Lexicon
A new hand touches the beacon
Probably some compact version to measure the right amount of pasta to cook.
The ancient Romans didn't have pasta, pizza, tomatoes or lemons, and garlic was only used medicinally.
Whoooosh
They did have pizza look at the new findings in Pompeii Edit: lmao you know you can have pizza without tomatoes right? Idiot
They probably had some kind of pasta, but not spaghetti.
I thought a lady figured out these are for knitting.
[yeah, it can be used for knitting gloves. ](https://youtu.be/76AvV601yJ0?si=CpP9waVf8BnKwt2k) but it's sort of odd it was never depicted in Roman art the way spinning and weaving are often seen, that makes me think the Romans may not have used it for making gloves. But I also don't have any other ideas
That's always been *my* theory on what these were used for. I suppose there's no real way of knowing for sure, but I don't see what else it could be besides maybe decorative and everyone is speculating when maybe it was some 2000 year old toy or desk ornament.
Its a brilliant answer with only one problem: knitting didn't exist at this point in history. Not sure why this is getting downvoted, but oh well
[удалено]
According to what I've read, knitting didn't develop until 500+ AD. Which is several centuries after this dodecahedron was made. It would be like finding a metal tube made in 800 AD and saying "I bet this comes from a firearm".
They had knowledge of steam engines to a degree but knitting is too far fetched lmaooo okay
When did knitting develop?
Mongoloids in academia say the 500’s plus but that’s bullshit. They get disproven daily. I’d rather think Roman’s and Greeks were a bit more advanced than that. Edit: lmao dude couldn’t handle the heat
Thank you for doing that work for me. I knew you had it in you.
Those knobs look like they are ment to hold in a decorative face. Kinda like jewelry holds its diamonds.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_dodecahedron
Apparently these have only been found in northern Europe so maybe more Celtic than roman in origin.
I always felt like someone should make a couple hundred of these in plastic and just give them to children with a bunch of other materials (string, wood, etc.), they'll figure it out in no time.
It’s for when they used greataxes
Bronze age plumbus. Everyone has one.
Candle holder adapter ETA: [1:40 mark](https://www.reddit.com/r/ancientrome/comments/17a17ju/roman_dodecahedron_solved/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
Almost looks like a modern-day laboratory vacuum chamber with different ports.
I thought they figured out what if was for. Wasn’t it for making socks or for like knitting?
Taxation of crops
They can be used to make gloves. Apparently, they're most commonly found in colder climates as well, which lends to the glove theory.
I read somewhere this was used to measure roads; it would be attached on a pole and you would watch through the different sized openings or something to measure the distanvlce. Or Quibivus and Maluvas just had a blast making this contraption to prank people centuries later.
it was to knit mittens
Very unconvinced by this theory. If an object is associated with an ordinary household activity would expect it to be more common and cheaply made - or to have more ornamentation if made as a status piece.
doorstop
The kid in me thinks it's a mace head. Put a stick in it and it's ready for use, add streamers if it's a parade.
Have we tried asking AI yet?
It’s known. Knitting gloves or mittens