The picture above is of a Roman dodecahedron, so called because of its dodecahedral shape, with twelve flat pentagonal surfaces. Over a hundred of these little bronze or stone dodecahedra, which date from the second or third centuries, have been found in Europe, in locations ranging from Wales to Hungary to Italy, with most being found in Germany and France.
The use or reason for these dodecahedra are something of a mystery, as there's no mention of such objects in the Roman literature or artwork of the time. Possible suggested uses include: candlestick holders (one found dodecahedron had wax in it), dice, survey instruments, a tool for determining optimal planting dates for winter wheat, gauges to calibrate water pipes, army standard bases, or religious artifacts.
Martin Hallett thinks he may have solved the mystery. He had a scale replica made from 3D print outs, and set to work with some yarn to see what could be done with a dodecahedron. Turns out they make a useful knitting nancy for making gloves, or as they might have called it in Roman times, a knitting dodecahredria or knitting nicé.
So clever and more portable and maybe less fiddly than making gloves with double pointed needles.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting.
ReplyDeleteNope. I could see how the central chamber becomes so full of yarn in that method. The fingers were too narrow. Plus, if that item had the same holes and knobs arranged in a straight line, it would be more effective. I like the outside of the box thinking but unless someone demonstrates a much more effective application of the glove theory, I am not buying it. I just see no reasoning for the shape.
ReplyDeleteAn instrument to measure distances with scientific precision of the time. https://arxiv.org/abs/1206.0946
DeleteWell, ok. But no cigar. Clever thinking - but there is something else that we just don't know - yet.
ReplyDeleteGlad I found this video. TY.