Topic: Roman dodecahedron
Anonymous A started this discussion 3 years ago #103,589
Hello.So, archaeologists have found found these unusual dodecahedron objects in Romans sites.
They were found mostly in Roman Gaul, but a few were found elsewhere in the empire.They were mostly found in military sites, but two were found near coin hordes, and one in a grave.
Anonymous B joined in and replied with this 3 years ago, 53 seconds later[^] [v] #1,168,272
No one knows what they were for.
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 3 years ago, 20 seconds later, 1 minute after the original post[^] [v] #1,168,273
Now, the issue is, that we have no idea what the fuck the Romans used these for. No contemporary sources mention them!Anonymous A (OP) double-posted this 3 years ago, 6 minutes later, 7 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #1,168,276
A few theories have been proposed, at least that I've heard:- They were primitive rangefinders, used to estimate distances. This goes with them being found mainly in military sites, but does not explain the knobs around them.
- They were used to check coins: again, the knobs on the side are redundant for this, and far from all of them were found near coins
- They were a part of some long-forgotten Roman game. This would make sense for them being found in military sites. Military men do love games to pass the time, after all.
- They were of some religious or mythical significance. Not much more to say on this, this is hard to prove or disprove either way.
- They were crafting dummies for ancient artisans. The various parts of these items would, in ancient times, have demonstrated various skills for ancient blacksmiths. So they may have been a sort of proof of skill.
(Edited 5 minutes later.)
Anonymous A (OP) triple-posted this 3 years ago, 2 minutes later, 9 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #1,168,277
So, in short, we have no idea what the FUCK these things were. Them being found in military bases, near coins hordes, and in one grave, suggests that they were some sort of useful/valuable to the Romans, but beyond that we have nothing.
Well, unless you have any ideas, I guess we'll never know. :(
Well, unless you have any ideas, I guess we'll never know. :(
Anonymous B replied with this 3 years ago, 14 minutes later, 24 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #1,168,279
Kook !!rcSrAtaAC joined in and replied with this 3 years ago, 16 minutes later, 40 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #1,168,283
I saw someone on reddit say that they were probably used for weaving or knitting or sewing
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 3 years ago, 6 minutes later, 46 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #1,168,284
@1,168,279 (B)
It's definitely one of the more credible theories, IMO! It would explain them being found both in military sites, and in places of value like graves and money stashes.
@previous (Kook !!rcSrAtaAC)
Ah, yes, that's another theory! I left that out because, in the video I saw, it basically said that this would be super annoying and time-consuming as a knitting aid. And that, indeed, knitting would be of little interest to military men, who would have little use for knitted gloves.
I could be wrong, but IMO it's a little less likely. If only for where they were found.
It's definitely one of the more credible theories, IMO! It would explain them being found both in military sites, and in places of value like graves and money stashes.
@previous (Kook !!rcSrAtaAC)
Ah, yes, that's another theory! I left that out because, in the video I saw, it basically said that this would be super annoying and time-consuming as a knitting aid. And that, indeed, knitting would be of little interest to military men, who would have little use for knitted gloves.
I could be wrong, but IMO it's a little less likely. If only for where they were found.
Kook !!rcSrAtaAC replied with this 3 years ago, 21 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #1,168,286
boof joined in and replied with this 3 years ago, 1 hour later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #1,168,308
you can determine gauge of shot with that
Anonymous E joined in and replied with this 3 years ago, 2 days later, 2 days after the original post[^] [v] #1,168,618
1d20 and 2d12Obviously they were gamers.
They probably took a break from their lives campaigning and fighting with a variety of weapons to play a role playing game about living in a relatively peaceful futuristic society where you drove cars to work and paid off a mortgage while raising a family.
Anonymous F joined in and replied with this 2 years ago, 1 year later, 1 year after the original post[^] [v] #1,276,642
dw !p9hU6ckyqw joined in and replied with this 2 years ago, 23 minutes later, 1 year after the original post[^] [v] #1,276,648
Ask chatgpt
Indie the Grate joined in and replied with this 2 years ago, 58 seconds later, 1 year after the original post[^] [v] #1,276,649
SOmeone figured out that they have something to do with knitting.
Anonymous I joined in and replied with this 2 years ago, 27 minutes later, 1 year after the original post[^] [v] #1,276,655
Anonymous J joined in and replied with this 2 years ago, 59 minutes later, 1 year after the original post[^] [v] #1,276,685
@1,168,276 (A)
> A few theories have been proposed, at least that I've heard:
No they haven't. No you haven't.
> - They were primitive rangefinders, used to estimate distances. This goes with them being found mainly in military sites, but does not explain the knobs around them.
No they weren't. No it doesn't. Yes it does.
> - They were used to check coins: again, the knobs on the side are redundant for this, and far from all of them were found near coins
No they weren't. No they aren't. No they weren't.
> - They were a part of some long-forgotten Roman game. This would make sense for them being found in military sites. Military men do love games to pass the time, after all.
No they weren't. No it wouldn't. No they don't.
> - They were of some religious or mythical significance. Not much more to say on this, this is hard to prove or disprove either way.
No they weren't. Yes there is. No it isn't.
> - They were crafting dummies for ancient artisans. The various parts of these items would, in ancient times, have demonstrated various skills for ancient blacksmiths. So they may have been a sort of proof of skill.
No they weren't. No they haven't. No they wouldn't.
> A few theories have been proposed, at least that I've heard:
No they haven't. No you haven't.
> - They were primitive rangefinders, used to estimate distances. This goes with them being found mainly in military sites, but does not explain the knobs around them.
No they weren't. No it doesn't. Yes it does.
> - They were used to check coins: again, the knobs on the side are redundant for this, and far from all of them were found near coins
No they weren't. No they aren't. No they weren't.
> - They were a part of some long-forgotten Roman game. This would make sense for them being found in military sites. Military men do love games to pass the time, after all.
No they weren't. No it wouldn't. No they don't.
> - They were of some religious or mythical significance. Not much more to say on this, this is hard to prove or disprove either way.
No they weren't. Yes there is. No it isn't.
> - They were crafting dummies for ancient artisans. The various parts of these items would, in ancient times, have demonstrated various skills for ancient blacksmiths. So they may have been a sort of proof of skill.
No they weren't. No they haven't. No they wouldn't.
Anonymous B replied with this 2 years ago, 2 hours later, 1 year after the original post[^] [v] #1,276,735
MATT!
boof replied with this 2 years ago, 2 hours later, 1 year after the original post[^] [v] #1,276,763
I'm a little surprised that none of the nubs broke off