Roman dodecahedron. Cube-like body with twelve pentagonal faces that have different sizes of round openings. Cast in bronze and hollow inside. Concentric grooves around the openings. Spheres (knobs) are attached to the 20 corners. One ball is missing. The exact function of the dodecahedron is not entirely clear, attempts at interpretation range from measuring device (distance and angle meter, calibration device, caliber measurement for coin ingots, etc.), stand (for rod or candles), to representational object (scepter, etc.) or game (toy to throw up and catch with a stick, dice, dice basket, etc.), to use in the cultic, religious, mystical or astrological field. Bronze; h 4,8 cm; 2nd-3rd century AD.
Model: © Landessammlungen Niederösterreich, Niederösterreich 3D
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