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Roman dodecahedron

January 01, 1970

A Roman dodecahedron or Gallo-Roman dodecahedron[1][2] is a small hollow object made of copper alloy which has been cast into a regular dodecahedral shape: twelve flat pentagonal faces. Each face has a circular hole of varying diameter in the middle, the holes connecting to the hollow center, and each corner has a protruding knob.[1] Roman dodecahedra date from the 2nd to 4th centuries AD and their purpose remains unknown.[1] They rarely show signs of wear, and do not have any inscribed numbers or letters.[3]

Roman bronze dodecahedron found in Tongeren, Gallo-Roman Museum, Tongeren

History edit

 
Two dodecahedra and an icosahedron on display in the Rheinisches Landesmuseum Bonn, Germany

The first dodecahedron was found in 1739. Since then, at least 130 similar objects have been found in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, but not in the Roman heartland in Italy.[1] In 2023, a dodecahedron in excellent condition was found by amateur archeologists in the small village of Norton Disney in Lincolnshire, UK, bringing the total to 33 of such objects found on the territory of Roman Britain.[4]

Instances range in size from 4 to 11 centimetres (1.6 to 4.3 in). A Roman icosahedron has also been discovered after having long been misclassified as a dodecahedron. This icosahedron was excavated near Arloff in Germany and is currently on display in the Rheinisches Landesmuseum in Bonn.[5]

Purpose edit

No mention of dodecahedrons has been found in contemporary accounts or pictures of the time. Speculative uses include as a survey instrument for estimating distances to (or sizes of) distant objects, though this is questioned as there are no markings to indicate that they would be a mathematical instrument;[6] as spool knitting devices for making gloves[3] (though the earliest known reference to spool knitting is from 1535,[7][8][9] and this would neither explain the use of bronze, nor the apparently similar icosahedron which is missing the holes necessary for spool knitting); as part of a child's toy;[3] or for decorative purposes.[10]

Several dodecahedra were found in coin hoards, suggesting either that their owners considered them valuable objects, or that their use was connected with coins- as, for example, for easily checking coins fit a certain diameter and were not clipped.[11] It has been suggested that they might have been religious artifacts, or even fortune-telling devices. This latter speculation is based on the fact that most of the examples have been found in Gallo-Roman sites.[12][13] It has also been suggested that they might have been an object to test the skill of a metalsmith, perhaps as part of a portfolio to demonstrate their capabilities to customers or as a way to qualify for a certain status in a collegium (guild). This speculation is based on the historic cost of bronze and the level of skill necessary to cast such an object.[3] Some 19th-century antiquarians speculated that they might be weapons, such as the head of a mace or a metal bullet, but other scholars have suggested that the dodecahedra are too light to make an effective weapon.[3]

Similar objects edit

Smaller dodecahedra with the same features (holes and knobs) and made from gold have been found in South-East Asia along the Maritime Silk Road and the earliest items appear to be from the Roman epoch. Examples include those uncovered in Óc Eo, Vietnam, by Louis Malleret, who concluded that the objects represented the influence of Mediterranean trade on the Funan economy.[14] Similar decorative gold dodecahedrons have been found in the Pyu city-states and Khao Sam Kaeo.[10][15]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Guggenberger, Michael (2013-10-03). "The Gallo-Roman Dodecahedron". The Mathematical Intelligencer. 35 (4). Springer Science and Business Media LLC: 56–60. doi:10.1007/s00283-013-9403-7. ISSN 0343-6993. S2CID 122337773.
  2. ^ Hill, Christopher (1994). "Gallo-Roman Dodecahedra: A Progress Report". The Antiquaries Journal. 74. Cambridge University Press (CUP): 289–292. doi:10.1017/s0003581500024458. ISSN 0003-5815. S2CID 161691752.
  3. ^ a b c d e Metcalfe, Tom (August 6, 2018). "The Mysterious Bronze Objects that Have Baffled Archaeologists for Centuries". Pocket. Mental Floss. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  4. ^ Stavrou, A (20 January 2024). "Amateur archaeologist discovers bizarre Roman object that has baffled for centuries". The Independent. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  5. ^ Artmann, Benno (1999). Euclid – the creation of mathematics. New York: Springer. p. 303. ISBN 978-0-387-98423-0.
  6. ^ Sparavigna, A. (2012). "Roman dodecahedron as dioptron: Analysis of freely available data". arXiv:1206.0946 [physics.pop-ph].
  7. ^ von Schmoller, Gustav (1879). "67. Rathsentscheidung in einem Streite der Tuchersunft und der Zunft zum Spiegel. dass das Hosenstricker-Handwerk ze der erstern gehöre. 1535.". Die Strassburger tucher- und weberzunft: Urkunden und darstellung nebst regesten und glossar. Ein beitrag zur geschichte der deutschen weberei und des deutschen gewerberechts vom XIII.-XVII. jahrhundert. Strassburg: Verlag von Karl J. Trübner. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  8. ^ Rutt, Richard (1987). A History of Hand Knitting (U.S. ed.). Loveland, Colo.: Interweave Press. ISBN 0934026351. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  9. ^ Spencer, David J. (2001). Knitting technology : a comprehensive handbook and practical guide (3rd ed.). Lancaster, Pa.: Technomic. ISBN 9781855737556.
  10. ^ a b Bennett, Anna T.N. (2009-12-31). "Gold in early Southeast Asia". ArchéoSciences (33). OpenEdition: 99–107. doi:10.4000/archeosciences.2072. ISSN 1960-1360.
  11. ^ Greiner, Bernhard A. (1996). "Römische Dodekaeder: Untersuchungen zur Typologie, Herstellung, Verbreitung, und Funktion". Carnuntum Jahrbuch 1995 (in German). pp. 9–44.
  12. ^ Henig, Martin (1984). Religion in Roman Britain. Routledge. p. 128. ISBN 0-7134-6047-4.
  13. ^ Kilford, L.J.P. (December 2004). "A mathematical tourist in Germany". Mathematics Today. Vol. 40, no. 6. p. 204.
  14. ^ Malleret, Louis (1961). "Les dodecaedres d'or du site d'Oc-eo" [The gold dodecohedrons from the Oc-eo site]. Artibus Asiae (in French). 24 (3–4). JSTOR: 343–350. doi:10.2307/3249235. ISSN 0004-3648. JSTOR 3249235.
  15. ^ Xiong, Zhaoming (2014). "The Hepu Han tombs and the maritime Silk Road of the Han Dynasty". Antiquity. 88 (342). Cambridge University Press (CUP): 1229–1243. doi:10.1017/s0003598x0011542x. ISSN 0003-598X. S2CID 161059940.

External links edit

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  • by Alexandria Hein, Fox News, June 10, 2011

January 01, 1970
roman, dodecahedron, gallo, small, hollow, object, made, copper, alloy, which, been, cast, into, regular, dodecahedral, shape, twelve, flat, pentagonal, faces, each, face, circular, hole, varying, diameter, middle, holes, connecting, hollow, center, each, corn. A Roman dodecahedron or Gallo Roman dodecahedron 1 2 is a small hollow object made of copper alloy which has been cast into a regular dodecahedral shape twelve flat pentagonal faces Each face has a circular hole of varying diameter in the middle the holes connecting to the hollow center and each corner has a protruding knob 1 Roman dodecahedra date from the 2nd to 4th centuries AD and their purpose remains unknown 1 They rarely show signs of wear and do not have any inscribed numbers or letters 3 Roman bronze dodecahedron found in Tongeren Gallo Roman Museum Tongeren Contents 1 History 2 Purpose 3 Similar objects 4 References 5 External linksHistory edit nbsp Two dodecahedra and an icosahedron on display in the Rheinisches Landesmuseum Bonn Germany The first dodecahedron was found in 1739 Since then at least 130 similar objects have been found in Austria Belgium France Germany Hungary Luxembourg the Netherlands Switzerland and the United Kingdom but not in the Roman heartland in Italy 1 In 2023 a dodecahedron in excellent condition was found by amateur archeologists in the small village of Norton Disney in Lincolnshire UK bringing the total to 33 of such objects found on the territory of Roman Britain 4 Instances range in size from 4 to 11 centimetres 1 6 to 4 3 in A Roman icosahedron has also been discovered after having long been misclassified as a dodecahedron This icosahedron was excavated near Arloff in Germany and is currently on display in the Rheinisches Landesmuseum in Bonn 5 Purpose editNo mention of dodecahedrons has been found in contemporary accounts or pictures of the time Speculative uses include as a survey instrument for estimating distances to or sizes of distant objects though this is questioned as there are no markings to indicate that they would be a mathematical instrument 6 as spool knitting devices for making gloves 3 though the earliest known reference to spool knitting is from 1535 7 8 9 and this would neither explain the use of bronze nor the apparently similar icosahedron which is missing the holes necessary for spool knitting as part of a child s toy 3 or for decorative purposes 10 Several dodecahedra were found in coin hoards suggesting either that their owners considered them valuable objects or that their use was connected with coins as for example for easily checking coins fit a certain diameter and were not clipped 11 It has been suggested that they might have been religious artifacts or even fortune telling devices This latter speculation is based on the fact that most of the examples have been found in Gallo Roman sites 12 13 It has also been suggested that they might have been an object to test the skill of a metalsmith perhaps as part of a portfolio to demonstrate their capabilities to customers or as a way to qualify for a certain status in a collegium guild This speculation is based on the historic cost of bronze and the level of skill necessary to cast such an object 3 Some 19th century antiquarians speculated that they might be weapons such as the head of a mace or a metal bullet but other scholars have suggested that the dodecahedra are too light to make an effective weapon 3 Similar objects editSmaller dodecahedra with the same features holes and knobs and made from gold have been found in South East Asia along the Maritime Silk Road and the earliest items appear to be from the Roman epoch Examples include those uncovered in oc Eo Vietnam by Louis Malleret who concluded that the objects represented the influence of Mediterranean trade on the Funan economy 14 Similar decorative gold dodecahedrons have been found in the Pyu city states and Khao Sam Kaeo 10 15 References edit a b c d Guggenberger Michael 2013 10 03 The Gallo Roman Dodecahedron The Mathematical Intelligencer 35 4 Springer Science and Business Media LLC 56 60 doi 10 1007 s00283 013 9403 7 ISSN 0343 6993 S2CID 122337773 Hill Christopher 1994 Gallo Roman Dodecahedra A Progress Report The Antiquaries Journal 74 Cambridge University Press CUP 289 292 doi 10 1017 s0003581500024458 ISSN 0003 5815 S2CID 161691752 a b c d e Metcalfe Tom August 6 2018 The Mysterious Bronze Objects that Have Baffled Archaeologists for Centuries Pocket Mental Floss Retrieved 17 September 2019 Stavrou A 20 January 2024 Amateur archaeologist discovers bizarre Roman object that has baffled for centuries The Independent Retrieved 20 January 2024 Artmann Benno 1999 Euclid the creation of mathematics New York Springer p 303 ISBN 978 0 387 98423 0 Sparavigna A 2012 Roman dodecahedron as dioptron Analysis of freely available data arXiv 1206 0946 physics pop ph von Schmoller Gustav 1879 67 Rathsentscheidung in einem Streite der Tuchersunft und der Zunft zum Spiegel dass das Hosenstricker Handwerk ze der erstern gehore 1535 Die Strassburger tucher und weberzunft Urkunden und darstellung nebst regesten und glossar Ein beitrag zur geschichte der deutschen weberei und des deutschen gewerberechts vom XIII XVII jahrhundert Strassburg Verlag von Karl J Trubner Retrieved 27 January 2023 Rutt Richard 1987 A History of Hand Knitting U S ed Loveland Colo Interweave Press ISBN 0934026351 Retrieved 27 January 2023 Spencer David J 2001 Knitting technology a comprehensive handbook and practical guide 3rd ed Lancaster Pa Technomic ISBN 9781855737556 a b Bennett Anna T N 2009 12 31 Gold in early Southeast Asia ArcheoSciences 33 OpenEdition 99 107 doi 10 4000 archeosciences 2072 ISSN 1960 1360 Greiner Bernhard A 1996 Romische Dodekaeder Untersuchungen zur Typologie Herstellung Verbreitung und Funktion Carnuntum Jahrbuch 1995 in German pp 9 44 Henig Martin 1984 Religion in Roman Britain Routledge p 128 ISBN 0 7134 6047 4 Kilford L J P December 2004 A mathematical tourist in Germany Mathematics Today Vol 40 no 6 p 204 Malleret Louis 1961 Les dodecaedres d or du site d Oc eo The gold dodecohedrons from the Oc eo site Artibus Asiae in French 24 3 4 JSTOR 343 350 doi 10 2307 3249235 ISSN 0004 3648 JSTOR 3249235 Xiong Zhaoming 2014 The Hepu Han tombs and the maritime Silk Road of the Han Dynasty Antiquity 88 342 Cambridge University Press CUP 1229 1243 doi 10 1017 s0003598x0011542x ISSN 0003 598X S2CID 161059940 External links editListen to this article 2 minutes source source nbsp This audio file was created from a revision of this article dated 29 August 2019 2019 08 29 and does not reflect subsequent edits Audio help More spoken articles nbsp Media related to Roman dodecahedron at Wikimedia Commons History Mystery Ancient Dodecahedron s Purpose Remains Secret by Alexandria Hein Fox News June 10 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Roman dodecahedron amp oldid 1223711316, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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