Posted on 06/04/2014 7:14:28 AM PDT by BenLurkin
Though more than 100 of the strange objects are known to exist, their purpose remains a puzzling mystery that has perplexed archaeologists since their first discovery.
All throughout Europe, small geometric objects known as Roman dodecahedrons have been recovered. As far north as Wales, and further south toward the Mediterranean, the dodecahedrons, usually made of bronze or stone, are seldom larger than about eight to ten centimeters in size. So what was their purpose?
Part of what has led to their mystery has been the speculation surrounding their use, as no classical accounts or narratives seem to mention them, let alone offer any explanation for what purpose they may have served. Among the leading theories about their practical use, archaeologists have guessed that they might be everything form gaming objects similar to multi-sided dice used in modern role playing games, to items intended to hold candlesticks or other objects. Others have speculated that they may hold religious or cultural significance, and some have gone so far as to presume they could have been useful in determining the proper times for planting various crops throughout the year.
(Excerpt) Read more at gralienreport.com ...
Quite clearly it is a postage meter of sorts.
The twelve faces with holes of varying diameters were meant to simply gauge the weight of various sized scrolls. The longer the scroll the bigger the diameter and greater weight. The postage service was priced accordingly.
With twelve faces it doubled as a desk calendar and paper weight. Maybe.
An olive size gauge.
Hole on top is larger - I’d guess a lamp like device (candle in the top or the top over a wooden pedastal)
Or maybe a vase for dried flowers
course relative size is hard to tell from the picture so that would make a difference too
Wrong! It is the core from a Vogon warp drive plasma fusion chamber. 3rd generation design, I believe.
Well of course it is. And you just had to let that cat out of the bag now. You cadets are forever forgetting the Prime Directive.
A few eons in stasis on Asimov delta five is in your immediate future. There might be terrans reading this!
Obama would press the button just to scr*w America.
Oops!
I’ve always been of the belief that they are the devices used for “casting lots”. Lots were cast in the lap. If you are wearing a toga, normal dice land sideways on edges. With the extra curb-feeler bits, the lots would stop more easily on fabric.
I’ve not clue one, of course. But, it does make me wonder what archeologists are going to think about all the tchatchky littering shelves in homes of today, once they dig them up in a couple thousand years.
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