Submitted 3 weeks ago by Daft_ish@lemmy.dbzer0.com to [deleted]
https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/pictrs/image/8cd2203d-607f-4b85-934c-7d33caba0090.webp
Hired.
Roman Dodecahedrons - my favored theory was that they were used to make wool gloves. Indeed, when I looked into it, someone had done this. AFAIK, cool as they are, and as many of them as have been found, no one really knows what purpose they served.
There is no evidence of knitting in the Roman Empire, which if it was there is weird when you consider how much art they made that shows other parts of their daily lives and how many deities they had for every aspect of life.
The solid ones would also be completely useless for knitting gloves. And why are these typically found in hoards of money if they’re a part of domestic life? It just doesn’t fit the available evidence. I don’t think it’s a bad idea, but it doesn’t work to explain all of them.
There is no evidence of knitting in the Roman Empire
Those gold wire necklaces were Roman made.
I think it’s pretty obvious they’re for playing Tullianums et Dracones. Probably edition III since it had the most d10 use.
These were clearly used for fossil crafting.
I had to Delve too deep for this response
Nah the knitting / weaving idea doesn’t add up.
Basically, they can be used to weave a tube, but that isn’t really evidence that they were created with that intention.
The bronze would be polished up around the knobs if it were used that way.
You wouldn’t use bronze to make a weaving tool just because it’s so expensive. Maybe as a once off or special item, but not generally.
You don’t vary the size of your knitting or weaving by using a bigger template / more loose weave. One larger finger you would use more stitches: that’s fundamental to knitting and weaving.
At first glance it’s a nice idea but it doesn’t withstand critical thought.
100 internet points, but I can’t give them. Gloves.
Thank you for the "100 internet points", I can't imagine what I'll use them for, or when. :-D
Apperently the holes are important for the knitting, but there are some dodecahedrons without holes.
My preferred theory is that it identifies the bearer as belonging to a group something like a smithies guild.
If there was a practical function someone would have figured it out. It’s a lame candle holder, coin counter, and glove knitting template. It’s function is symbolic.
It was hard to make, and the materials were costly.
It has specific features that can be described like “it has 12 flat faces with holes” but would be difficult to construct if you had never seen one.
They have often been found with caches of coins, but often found alone as though forgotten or discarded. They had value to some people but they were not treasure.
In other words, they were masterpieces in the original meaning of the word. Masterpiece originally meant not just some great or acclaimed work, but something much more specific. It was the work a guild artisan would use to demonstrate their ultimate skill and earn the title of Master. It was the craftsman equivalent of an academic dissertation. For a specific historical example, see columbine cup.
I’m just imagining a thousand years from now some archaeologists is trying to understand the technological purpose of the fidget spinner.
I really like the “you cant actually make one from a description” angle. That actually makes a lot of sense. Like, you couldn’t even make it from memory, you’d have to copy it.
Yep, in a way this has similarities to modern cryptography.
In cryptography you can share a public key, which can’t be used to create the private key but can be used to identify the correct private key.
With this object, you can share a description which can’t be used to make the object, but can be used to identify the object.
Its obviously not infallible security, but it would take some effort to overcome.
The Roman Plumbus.
In 1000 years people will find a land fill with fidget spinners and wonder the same.
In fact, my hypothesis (it’s mine, you can’t have it) is that the Roman empire fell due to everybody being constantly distressed and distracted because they kept losing their fidget dodecahedrons all over Europe.
So you claim your hypothesis is nonfungible? Watch me funge up your hypothesis!
Or they will immediately start fidgeting with them and inadvertently understand.
Which now leads me to believe these relics are merely copies of earlier relics that were copied from relics even earlier. Created only to be recreated as the echo of curiosity.
The big bang was god dropping his dodecahedron fidget spinner
Or finger traps.
These are candle holders for when you want to send light in all directions by using candles of various widths. All knowledge of them evaporated because all the users died in mysterious fires.
Did they ever discover what started the fires?
It wasn’t Billy Joel and his mates, so he says.
We didnt start the fire
Turns out the Greeks invented D&D, and the Romans just copied them with their own Pathfinder style take on their gods and heroes. The dodecahedrons? Obviously part of their game.
You know what got me when I was visiting China was that “Royals/Nobel” collected thin disks of jade as a sign of their wealth/influence/skilled tradesmen/maybe spiritual.
The theory’s are all over the place, I believe it was a status symbol.
I think ancient cultures had hypes just like we do now. Old Chinese Jade Labubu
Y’all, it’s just a cool thing, and a status symbol.
You’re really going to tell me that a species that has/had things like decorative paper weights, necklaces, rings, statues, fidget spinners, funko pop figures, and little tiny versions of buildings you flew 8 hours to see for sale near the actual building isn’t going to be the same one that in ancient times, was all over a little bronze thing that looks objectively cool once some metal worker figures out how to make one?
It’s like none of you have ever met a human before. It doesn’t have to do anything. That’s the point.
While you may be right, you’re basically yelling at humans to not be curious and problem solve.
Not at all.
I’m saying don’t over think it.
I’m not sure that solves all the problems, like why mostly in gaul and why do they all look mostly the same? I think if it was just a fashion trend you would see them get more elaborate.
Biblically accurate coins.
Made my day ❤️
Those look like objects I would find in Skyrim
A new hand touches the dodecahedron!
The knitting help?
You mean the spaghetti portion measurer?
I knew it had something to do with cloth
It reminds me of a Turner’s Cube. Which is just a pointless gee-gaw that machinists make to sharpen and show off their skills
“That is very unlike a coin. You’re terrible at this.”
Smithing test, so your title is potentially accurate
Where can I learn to talk/type like this?
You dont learn autism my friend.
I’m pretty sure you can on tiktok.
Im definitely on the spectrum but maybe theres another tool out there for me
An ancient d12!
It’s probably a rope rigging or for pikes – with the hole.
Why do the images on this instance never load for me and if I open them it takes me to some weird plain text site?
Lenny.world blocks everything they probably don’t like your instance for some reason. The images only load for me if I’m on a VPN
DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Grok said it’s a weapon, so we can eliminate that one.
SharkAttak@kbin.melroy.org 3 weeks ago
Yeah, let's eliminate Grok.
zarathustrad@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Almost anything is a weapon if you try.
someguy3@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Pocket dodecahedron!
DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
There are far, far more things that cannot be a weapon than can be.
For instance, a single grain of sand.
chunes@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
It’s the most likely use, IMO. They could be mace heads intended for personal protection. The different holes would be to accommodate different handle diameters.