On June 28th, 1739, the Royal Society of London met at the Mitre Tavern on Fleet Street. According to meeting minutes that survive today, a Mr. North from Hertfordshire presented a peculiar object made of mixed metal or ancient brass. It consisted of twelve sides with an equal number of perforations within them, all of unequal diameter. Each corner featured five knobs or little balls.", "style": "prose"}, {The object was found in Aston Hertfordshire, three meters from Stevenage, in a field called Hagole — where copper coins were also discovered.", "style": "prose"}, {This was the first historical reference to what we now call the Roman dodecahedron. And despite nearly three centuries of scholarship, no one has ever definitively explained what these objects were for.", "style": "prose", "emphasis": true}, {"section": "What We Know", "style": "heading"}, {Approximately 134 of these objects have been found — some in excellent condition, others in terrible shape. They date to the 2nd through 4th Century period of the Roman Empire, made from bronze or copper alloy. One specimen appears to be silver.", "style": "prose"}, {Typically, they measure between four and ten centimeters tall, not counting the knobs. They've been found in wells, in burials, alongside coins — with no consistent context indicating their purpose.", "style": "prose"}, {The physical characteristics are striking: twelve sides, each with varying hole sizes. No two holes opposite each other are the same size. None have any markings whatsoever — not a single letter, number, or scratch indicating meaning.", "style": "prose", "emphasis": true}, {The distribution is equally curious. Apart from a few exceptions in Hungary and Zagreb, they only appear in Roman Gaul and Britannia. None have been found in Italy, Greece, or around the Mediterranean. The objects seem limited to the very west of the Empire.", "style": "prose"}, {"section": "The Icosahedron Connection", "style": "heading"}, {There's another related object worth considering: the Roman icosahedron, a twenty-sided shape also found throughout Western Europe. Both share similarities — knobs on all sides, holes in varying sizes.", "style": "prose"}, {The key difference is that the icosahedron's holes are much smaller. You certainly can't thread anything through them. Are these two objects related? It's a faulty assumption to automatically link them, but they share so many similarities it seems they should be connected somehow.", "style": "prose", "emphasis": true}, {"section": "Theories and Counterarguments", "style": "heading"}, {Over 50 academic papers have proposed different ideas. The internet has hundreds more. Here are the most prominent theories.", "style": "prose"}, {"subheading": "Surveying Theory", One recurring idea is that these objects were used for surveying. The theory hinges on the fact that opposite holes are different sizes — every hole is a different size. In theory, if you knew the angle of difference between two opposite holes and the height of the object, you could estimate distance.", "style": "prose"}, {The appeal of this theory is clear: it explains why all the holes are different sizes. However, no two dodecahedrons are exactly alike. Every single one would have to be individually calibrated if this were its purpose.", "style": "prose", "emphasis": true}, {Critics might also note that if this were a measuring device, it would have markings on the holes — allowing someone to quickly switch between measurements like 100 meters versus 150 meters. Without such markings, you could never hand it to someone and say 'how far away is that thing?'", "style": "prose", "counterpoint": true}, {This theory also doesn't explain the icosahedron, whose holes are all the same size and impossible to look through.", "style": "prose"}, {"subheading": "Games and Fortune Telling", Another popular idea is that these were used for games or divination. The advantage here is that you don't need a practical use — it's simply how the game works, how fortune telling objects operate.", "style": "prose"}, {A counterargument worth considering: one dodecahedron was found in Geneva that's solid, not hollow — essentially a die. It has the names of star signs on it and is clearly for gaming. But this object lacks any markings whatsoever. Without them, how could anyone actually play?", "style": "prose", "counterpoint": true}, {"subheading": "Weaving Theory", One popular idea online suggests these were connected to weaving — specifically for gloves or jewelry. A YouTube creator demonstrated successfully weaving metal through the holes, forming Roman jewelry.", "style": "prose"}, {This theory explains both the knobs and the varying hole sizes: as you pull strands of jewelry through each hole, it gets smaller and tighter. The weaving gets tighter with each pass.", "style": "prose"}, {A reasonable objection: if used for metal weaving, the objects would show wear and tear. They don't appear to have any such evidence. Additionally, this seems like an expensive use — you could do this with other things and wouldn't need a valuable bronze object.", "style": "prose", "counterpoint": true}, {"subheading": "Skill Test Theory", Perhaps these were proof of skill — an apprentice produced one after learning to work bronze, or a traveling craftsman carried one around to prove they could do the job. This explanation is convenient: it requires explaining nothing about the shape, just that it's difficult enough to make.", "style": "prose"}, {The problem is fundamental: it would be a bad proof of identity. It's easily stolen. In the Roman world, you'd turn up at a fort or town claiming to be a bronze worker. It would be quickly obvious if you didn't know what you were doing — they'd simply kick you out.", "style": "prose", "emphasis": true}, {"subheading": "Candle Holder Theory", Another idea is that these were candle holders — essentially a multi-tool for candles. You could pop your candle in and never be without a holder.", "style": "prose"}, {The problem is immediate: you can't find the right sized hole. The holes are either too big or too small. A real bronze object wouldn't have this issue, but it also doesn't explain why it's better than a plate or an oil lamp — which Romans loved using with olive oil.", "style": "prose", "emphasis": true}, {"section": "Pull Quote", "style": "blockquote"}, {> It's probably the only ancient artifact with its very own subreddit. And it's really an absolute enigma.", "source": "Stefan Milo", "attributed": true}, {"section": "Bottom Line", "style": "heading"}, {The strongest part of this argument is that the mystery remains genuinely unsolved after nearly 300 years — and no theory has gained consensus. The distribution pattern (only in Gaul and Britannia) is intriguing, suggesting something specific to the western frontier.", "style": "prose"}, {The biggest vulnerability is that every proposed explanation has significant flaws. Without any markings or consistent context clues, we're essentially guessing. The absence from Italy, Greece, and the Mediterranean heartland of the Empire suggests this wasn't a mainstream object — yet 130+ have been found, so it's not rare either.", "style": "prose", "emphasis": true}]}
