A dodecahedron is a 12-sided shape made with flat pentagons. More than a hundred of these objects have been found in excavations of Roman settlements around Europe, but curiously none have been found in Italy. These Roman dodecahedrons are made of a copper alloy, and have holes in their flat sides and knobs on their corners. The first was found in the 18th century, and there is no Roman documentation on them. What were they used for?
So far, there is no consensus. The places they were found give no clue. There are many theories, though: are they survey instruments, fortune telling devices, game pieces, coin measurers, spools, religious objects, children's toys, or weapons? They might just be something metal workers used to show off their skills, or even trophies. My first impression is that people thought the shape was pretty clever, like the "Cool S" that kids draw, and then everyone wanted one. Read what we know about Roman dodecahedrons at Daily Grail. -via Strange Company
(Image credit: Kleon3)
