First question you may be asking yourself is: What is a Roman Dodecahedron?

From Wikipedia:

A Roman dodecahedron is a small hollow object made of bronze or stone, with a dodecahedral shape: twelve flat pentagonal faces, each face having a circular hole of varying diameter in the middle, the holes connecting to the hollow center. Roman dodecahedra date from the 2nd or 3rd centuries AD.

About a hundred of these dodecahedra have been found[1] from Wales to Hungary and Spain and to the east of Italy, with most found in Germany and France. Ranging from 4 to 11 centimetres (1.6 to 4.3 in) in size, they also vary in terms of textures. Most are made of bronze but some are made of stone.

No mention of them has been found in contemporary accounts or pictures of the time. Speculated uses include candlestick holders (wax was found inside two examples); dice; survey instruments for estimating distances to (or sizes of) distant objects;[2] devices for determining the optimal sowing date for winter grain;[3] gauges to calibrate water pipes or army standard bases. Use as a measuring instrument of any kind seems improbable since the dodecahedrons were not standardised and come in many sizes and arrangements of their openings. It has also been suggested that they may 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.[4][5] Several dodecahedra were found in coin hoards, providing evidence that their owners considered them valuable objects.[6] Smaller dodecahedra with the same features (holes and knobs) and made from gold have been found in South-East Asia. They have been used for decorative purposes and the earliest items appear to be from the Roman epoch.[7]

People have been speculating about them for centuries and have come to interesting conclusions. Most of them propose that they are some type of measuring device. Some theorized they were for measuring the trajectory of projectile weapons in battle, others thought they were for determining the proper days for sowing grains.

I haven’t seen a good description of the projectile measuring, but a person by the name of G.M.C. Wagemans believes the theory of the sowing of grains and has a very detailed description of its use, here at their Site.

Another intriguing notion is that it is used to knit gloves:

Another good video on using them for knitting:

I think that is an interesting theory, but I also see many holes in it. The most obvious being most of them were much smaller than the one they are using in the videos. I have no idea why people would cherish these objects (as shown by finding them in coin hordes) that essentially only make the finger parts of gloves for small children. Seems a little hard swallow.

My intuition upon seeing them was that they were a measuring device, but of a different sort.

Why would they be kept with precious coins and metals? Why are they only found a distance from Rome?

I believe they might have been used to test the purity in the metal of coins. The further you traveled from the seat of power, and the mint, the instances of counterfeit coins increased. I would imagine there were many artisans that could create counterfeit coins, even criminal organizations created for such an endeavor; perhaps in the mint itself.

If they were in the mint itself, they would just add impurities to the metals. If they were an outside organization they could meltdown coins and remove a measure of the precious metal used, and replace it with an impurity. Over thousands of coins it would be a profitable business, shady though it may be.

After many years of being cheated, an outlying people would have created these measuring devices, or demanded that they be made in Rome.

When a shipment of coins would arrive or a large purchase was being made, they would remove any random coin or two and melt them down and form them into a predetermined length rod (hammer or mold) sized to the appropriate hole on the dodecahedron. They would insert the rod into the hole and then bend it around the device twisting it around (in some manner) the knobs at the corners, or use them to keep the metal in a channel. Each level of purity would be able to bend in a certain pattern before it would crack or break. If it failed before the specific pattern it would be considered counterfeit and the lot would be rejected.

The size of the holes are for different types of metals and purity levels. Even if the device itself varied in size, it wouldn’t change its purpose as long as the ratios are maintained.

Perhaps the method that makes even more sense is for a predetermined amount of coins to be melted down and formed it into a ball. If it was pure it would just fit through its proper hole. If there is too much of a gap, or it fits through a smaller hole, it had impurities that were lost during the process and is counterfeit; or at least compromised.

The larger the dodecahedron the more coins are melted down to form the test ball, making the larger versions more accurate than the smaller ones. The version pictured above, has small ornate circles surrounding the holes. There are five circles surrounding some holes, and ten on others. I think this indicates how many coins to be melted down for that hole(s).

I haven’t done any scientific experiments, it’s educated intuitive speculation on my part. I wouldn’t bet my life on this theory, but having just thought of my ball version of the purity test hypothesis, I now think it makes the most sense of all theories.

I believe the nature of these items also explain their absence from Roman writings. The very nature of them is a slap in the face of Roman honor. They are created to reveal the evil nature of the Roman traders, and by extension Rome itself.

I imagine that after a few years of these tools being used, honest men would have fancier versions created, and have them included with their coins when presented to a new business prospect, as a sign of their purity, and their willingness to put them to the test.

If their relationship progressed to a true partnership or friendship, they would have ritualized the breaking of the dodecahedron (the item that tested the purity of both the man and his metal) and perhaps share the pieces as a memento of their bond.

If the last paragraph is true, you would find broken versions with valued treasure as much or more than you would whole ones. Does anyone know if that is true?

What do you think?

Mutemandeafcat

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