# \[Roman\] Dodecahedrons **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 27, 2023, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roman-dodecahedrons/980459 "2023-02-27T21:46:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 55
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roman-dodecahedrons/980459/1081 "2025-08-29T15:14:51Z")
My own theory is that time travelers left them there to fuck with us, they will be reading this thread and others like it in the 24th century and laughing their asses off, the motherfuckers. I’m generating some extra CO2 this month just to pay them back. Enjoy your destroyed ecosystem bastards!, who’s laughing now?. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roman-dodecahedrons/980459/1082 "2025-08-29T15:27:06Z")
> [@bodangus](#): > > The Dodechahedrons were tools used to weave the hollow gold wire ropes of various diameters. It’s that simple. In my opinion of course. They’re not useful for weaving, though. They’re not good for _anything_ we can think of. That’s why it’s so interesting to discuss. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roman-dodecahedrons/980459/1083 "2025-08-29T15:39:00Z")
More likely the holes were in the casting and then brought to final dimension afterwards. That simplifies casting, saves on bronze and minimizes amount of post-cast refinement needed. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roman-dodecahedrons/980459/1084 "2025-08-29T15:51:18Z")
> [@bodangus](#): > > The mines were mostly in Northern and Western Europ The primary Roman gold mines were in Iberia and Dacia - Southern and Eastern Europe, not Northern and Western. > [@bodangus](#): > > were manned by the local people Slaves. Roman mines were worked by slaves, not locals (well, some of the slaves doubtless were locals, but most likely were not) > [@bodangus](#): > > The Dodechahedrons were tools used to weave the hollow gold wire ropes of various diameters. Without any wear marks. And how, exactly, were they used? You can’t really French knit wire over those big knobs, it’s not as elastic as thread is so the loops will stay distorted. Also, it’s plain unnecessary, you can weave wire rope without a device - well, without that device, you still need pliers and a mandrel.. But more importantly - where are the wear marks? ---
**Author:** ![bodangus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c37758/32.png) [@bodangus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bodangus)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roman-dodecahedrons/980459/1085 "2025-08-29T16:23:18Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/lADTLozKm0I/maxresdefault.jpg "Solved? The Roman Dodecahedron") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lADTLozKm0I) ---
**Author:** ![bodangus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c37758/32.png) [@bodangus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bodangus)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roman-dodecahedrons/980459/1086 "2025-08-29T16:41:29Z")
Thread Killa ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roman-dodecahedrons/980459/1087 "2025-08-29T16:43:13Z")
Possible, but the lack of wear points to a more of a ceremonial/bling purpose. I think that two possibilities are more likely (and more research is needed): The military connection points to an augur tool used among soldiers in the region. Or: that the dodecahedrons were, just the bling itself, with a bit of usefulness regarding fancy clothing for special military occasions. I don’t think showing off medals or medallions were a regular thing, it is possible that it was used to hold string or leather straps that had medallions or other fancy pieces of clothing when showing off things, like when using a Phalera for special military celebrations. > **[Phalerae - Tin Plated](https://deepeeka.in/phalerae/)** > > Museum,replicas,nautical,mart,economy,India,steel,cheap,Deepeeka,armour,armoury,exports,handicraft,battle,ready,medieval,roman,ancient,fighting,dungeon,collectibles,renaissance,movie,props,decorative,lorica,segmentata,phalera,harness,brass The more shiny studs in the brooches, the better! ---
**Author:** ![bodangus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c37758/32.png) [@bodangus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bodangus)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roman-dodecahedrons/980459/1088 "2025-08-29T16:44:25Z")
[![](https://i.imgur.com/ZXDTQp0l.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/ZXDTQp0l.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![bodangus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c37758/32.png) [@bodangus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bodangus)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roman-dodecahedrons/980459/1089 "2025-08-29T16:53:18Z")
[![](https://i.imgur.com/RwsJVLPl.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/RwsJVLPl.jpg) Red dots where the dodechahedrons have been found. Where the ore was likely processed into wire and where the craftsman who made the wire and the jewelry likely were. And the boundaries of the Roman Empire at the time. Then there’s all the Roman roads and where all the mines were. [![](https://i.imgur.com/0iqimJKl.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/0iqimJKl.jpg) Then there’s all the Roman roads. ---
**Author:** ![bodangus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c37758/32.png) [@bodangus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bodangus)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roman-dodecahedrons/980459/1090 "2025-08-29T16:55:10Z")
Knowing how to preview a potential post would help. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roman-dodecahedrons/980459/1091 "2025-08-29T16:56:00Z")
Maybe the Roman Dodecahedrons were souvenirs that the Roman Soldiers carried around to all the Roman military camps > [@Souvenirs of yesteryear (1950s-1960s)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/souvenirs-of-yesteryear-1950s-1960s/1022550/45): > > I’ve always wanted one like would be in a TV sitcom kid’s room, the ones that just say “STATE” in a totally safe, generic “we’ll never tell what state the Cleavers live in” way. They used to have the concession rights to the Illinois Tollway Oases. The ones that straddle the highway, and you could sit and look out the window at the traffic running under you. I loved going there, when I could get to Chicago. The Tommy Bartlett Sea Sky and Stage show in Wisconsin Dells had people that stuck a… ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roman-dodecahedrons/980459/1092 "2025-08-29T17:01:58Z")
for those of us who don’t want to invest in a 40 minute video – what’s the elevator pitch? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roman-dodecahedrons/980459/1093 "2025-08-29T17:33:33Z")
So - you _can_ see that the mines and the artefacts are _not_ concentrated in the same places, right? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roman-dodecahedrons/980459/1094 "2025-08-29T17:37:18Z")
Once again - the very _same_ legions that were in this region _also_ were posted at other times to other parts of the Empire where no dodecahedrons have ever been found. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roman-dodecahedrons/980459/1095 "2025-08-29T18:08:13Z")
> [@bodangus](#): > > Knowing how to preview a potential post would help. Click on the button in the upper left of the reply window. It has an A in it. That gives you the preview window that we had before. And for those who didn’t like the typeface it had, they’ve changed that to be the same as before. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roman-dodecahedrons/980459/1096 "2025-08-29T18:21:19Z")
> [@Francis\_Vaughan](#): > > The most telling thing IMHO is that the two largest holes on many objects are opposite, and appear much less well defined than the others. FWIW, in the above 3D model the two largest holes are not diametrically opposite and one of them opposes a smaller hole. There’s less decoration on the larger holes, but then again there is less room for decoration. The two largest holes are not adjoining, but that makes some structural sense to me. > [@MrDibble](#): > > Highly doubtful, the Romans didn’t have paper. Papyrus or parchment then. Point being that you would expect some evidence of pictures if our favorite Platonic solid was a picture holder. (Another objection: I’m more than a little fuzzy on the details. If the portraits were on the inside of the dodecahedron, then the nodules look a little large to be merely there as a platform. But if the pics were on the outside (attached by strings), then why the varying sized holes? All purpose answer: aesthetic reasons.) My general methodology is to come up with an explanation _then knock it down_. The winning hypothesis being the least improbable. My general fear is that the real answer is ceremonial object, which is boring unless we learn more about the cult or ceremony. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roman-dodecahedrons/980459/1097 "2025-08-29T19:48:29Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > FWIW, in the above 3D model the two largest holes are not diametrically opposite and one of them opposes a smaller hole. That model is created in Blender, whether it exactly matches any real-world example is not known. > [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > My general fear is that the real answer is ceremonial object It’s my favoured explanation. I don’t find that boring at all. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roman-dodecahedrons/980459/1098 "2025-08-29T20:16:02Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > As pointed before, the area with the biggest holes (less weight) is the one more likely to come on top. Then why are the other sides also varying in hole size? If you just wanted one to come up on top most of the time, you’d make one side as heavy as possible, and the other 11 all as light as possible. > [@bodangus](#): > > The Dodechahedrons were tools used to weave the hollow gold wire ropes of various diameters. It’s that simple. In my opinion of course. OK, how? Obviously the diameter of the hole isn’t the diameter of the wire rope, because nobody makes or uses gold rope that thick. And how does one use the knobs to braid rope? Can you demonstrate the process using a replica? ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roman-dodecahedrons/980459/1099 "2025-08-29T20:31:29Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Can you demonstrate the process using a replica? The video in [post #1085](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roman-dodecahedrons/980459/1085) shows how it’s done. ---
**Author:** ![bodangus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c37758/32.png) [@bodangus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bodangus)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2025, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roman-dodecahedrons/980459/1100 "2025-08-29T20:43:07Z")
The Romans utilized locals to work the mines where the mines were located and probably kept almost everyone they could in those areas busy, The Romans then utilized the craftsman that existed elsewhere in Europe to refine the gold, produce the wire and make the jewelry, hence where the dodecahdrons were found and NOT where the mines were. The massive matrix of Roman roads connecting it all together, with the final products being delivered to the rich and famous Romans that lived closer to the Mediterranean Sea.. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roman-dodecahedrons/980459.md?page=54) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roman-dodecahedrons/980459.md?page=56)