One of my favourite mystery objects from the ancient world - a Roman dodecahedron. Despite over 100 found across the Roman world, we still have no idea what they were for. This one was found in Austria and is now in the Archaeological Museum of Zagreb, Croatia. 📸 My own #FindsFriday #Archaeology - ThreadSky

oz-of-the-ancients.bsky.social • 79 days ago

One of my favourite mystery objects from the ancient world - a Roman dodecahedron.

Despite over 100 found across the Roman world, we still have no idea what they were for.

This one was found in Austria and is now in the Archaeological Museum of Zagreb, Croatia.

📸 My own #FindsFriday #Archaeology

Comments

d3rrick.bsky.social•79 days ago

Either it's a MacGuffin or the Romans are having a laugh at our expense.

whatsmellslikeblue.bsky.social•79 days ago

One day, in 2,000 odd years, someone will probably be saying the same thing about a Fidget Spinner they've unearthed.

davidebb.bsky.social•79 days ago

I think they aren’t actually ‘across the Roman world’? They are a thing that north Western Europeans found they couldn’t do without. Very strange.

davidebb.bsky.social•79 days ago

These are just the ones on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database, so normally from rural areas, because that’s where the metal detecting goes on. But they have come from urban/military sites as well.

davidebb.bsky.social•77 days ago

Surely the one from Lincolnshire should be there? But it didn’t show.

oz-of-the-ancients.bsky.social•79 days ago

Good point, thanks for mentioning. By 'across' I meant 'a large area of the empire' and not 'all of it', but perhaps I should have phrased that better.

The NW Europe connection is interesting though, suggesting some Celtic cultural or religious association perhaps?

davidebb.bsky.social•79 days ago

But none in Spain … and in military and civilian contexts. Very strange, all our usual distribution hints seem useless.

aesirian.bsky.social•79 days ago

Didn't someone make different sized fingers for a glove with one of these, a bit like modern day cord knitters, or did I dream it?

penguin-ponders.bsky.social•51 days ago

I have seen a variation that did wire instead of knitting, which seemed plausible. I'm always biased towards any explanation that is practical. I don't think there's an actual consensus in the archeological community. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lADTLozKm0I