Talk:Roman dodecahedron

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Archives

Archive 1

old reqphoto request

There are photos on some of the linked sites, but they wouldn't be free use for Wikipedia. Someone would have to e-mail asking for permission, or go to a museum and snap some photos... AnonMoos 04:21, 25 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I've added a photo. --Itub 21:15, 22 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Article title

I think that dodecaeder is the German name, but in English these objects are known as "Roman dodecahedra". I will rename the article unless someone objects. --Itub 21:09, 22 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Stone?

Somebody claimed there were stone versions, but I removed it as it had no source. None of Guggenberger 2013, Thompson 1970, or Chistopher 1994 mention stone versions.(on the contrary, they mention casting, which is nearly impossible with stone) If you have a reliable source, feel free to re-add. $\langle$ Forbes₇₂ | Talk $\rangle$ 17:09, 27 April 2020 (UTC)[reply]

No more proposed solutions here please

I've archived more than a dozen threads where people offered possible explanations without reliable sources. It's interesting to speculate and discuss new proposals, but Wikipedia is not the right place for that discussion. New possible uses can be added to the article, but only if the proposal has already been made in reliable sources. 〈 Forbes₇₂ | Talk 〉 21:33, 10 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Two proposals are based on arxiv preprint by Sparavigna and the Wageman website which are both self-published sources. Are either of these people subject matter experts? They have footnotes and figures sort of like academic papers, but statements like "I based my works [1] and [2] mainly on Wikipedia and references therein" is a pretty big red flag. I suggest we should remove these. 〈 Forbes₇₂ | Talk 〉 22:03, 10 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Sparavigna is apparently an assistant professor at Politecnico di Torino, so plausibly a WP:SPS. Citing Wikipedia is a cause for concern but it's not the primary basis for the paper so probably not a disqualifying factor in this case, I'd say. On the other hand I can't find anything out about Wageman, so in the absence of any indication of expertise I think we can drop that citation and the associated claim. – Arms & Hearts (talk) 18:50, 12 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

(By which I mean, of course, plausibly a WP:EXPERTSPS.) – Arms & Hearts (talk) 19:53, 21 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Its use

I just watched an episode of mysteries of the unknown & they said someone used a 3D printer to make a Dodecanese in order to understand its purpose. He realized you could use the knobs to knit & if done right it makes a glove. 143.59.22.144 (talk) 07:16, 20 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Already discussed at Talk:Roman dodecahedron/Archive 1... -- AnonMoos (talk) 20:43, 21 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]

spool

It's a spool for line used in building. Light weight for packing. Sturdy enough for when the line is rolled out or thrown from a height. A ball would keep rolling, but this has sides. 2601:280:C083:8170:ECE3:F02C:9FE7:5195 (talk) 23:21, 28 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Spools are usually cylindrical, and this is original research. AnonMoos (talk) 17:21, 29 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Water valve.

Looks like it could have been used to direct the flow of water. The numbs on the corners could have held in place metal plates to stop water from flowing out in certain directions. 2601:280:CA7E:4420:74BB:607D:9717:6B2A (talk) 08:52, 5 May 2023 (UTC)[reply]

New dodecahedran purpose

I propose they were used with different thickness candles for each month as nighttime clocks, mainly for Roman forts/camps. Each one would have unique sets of hole sizes relevant yo their latitude as length of night varies with date AND latitude. They were used in place of water clocks as they were it used in areas liable to freezing temperatures. Ruthe (talk) 14:40, 31 May 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Multi-tool for quickly repairing weapon shafts/taking off metal heads

https://www.quora.com/I-was-just-reading-about-a-Roman-bronze-object-dodecahedron-and-no-one-is-certain-what-it-was-used-for-Could-it-have-been-a-coin-sorter-since-ancient-coins-had-no-standard-size-The-larger-the-size-the-more-valuable/answer/Richard-Allday-1?ch=15&oid=1477743683151559&share=cd554b41&srid=3C1zZj&target_type=answer 2600:1014:B03F:920A:BD05:8FEC:C1E4:BAD4 (talk) 04:57, 6 December 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Is it more possible?

Why haven't all the academics and professionals thought that they could be just as simply an ornamental object, why does it have to be more? 86.13.231.83 (talk) 22:23, 5 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Similar objects / See also

Would this Carved stone balls qualify for either a mention in the "Similar objects" section, or a "See also" link? Nø (talk) 12:03, 14 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Surveying and rangefinding

If used with string this could be a valuable surveying device for finding level ground and running string through the holes could demonstrate relative level. This could explain the distinctive variety of hole sizes. And it would be made of precious metals if it was such an important instrument. Clearly only civic leaders and builders would have need of such a tool explaining how it is found in ancient treasuries. 173.47.14.174 (talk) 04:38, 22 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

We'd need a proper source discussing this before we could include it in the wikipedia article. Nø (talk) 19:13, 24 January 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Gambling device ?

I don't suppose any coins from that era fit those holes perfectly? Maybe it was a gaming or gambling item. A person would throw it onto the floor and which ever side lay face up, the opponent of the thrower would have to pay the coin that fits the hole size? CK joiner (talk) 13:51, 5 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Or, quite possibly a coin counterfeit or sorting item held by the township ruler for when collecting taxes ? CK joiner (talk) 15:15, 5 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

So, the talk page is not really for discussing theories that are not found in the reliable sources (though this one may be, I don't know!). I will say, however, that I am dubious that minting standards at the time would allow for such uses, as variations (though usually slight) were pretty common. Cheers. Dumuzid (talk) 15:46, 5 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

To continue discussing what we shouldn't, I'd say a slot (like in a slot machine) would work better for this purpose than a round hole. Nø (talk) 18:37, 5 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Hamiltonian Circuit Puzzle

The dodecahedron affords a hamiltonian circuit of the vertices. It seems like construction of the balls at each vertex allows for wrapping a section of cord around the object in order to create a complete circuit.

This 19th century puzzle used a similar theme.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icosian_game Mike Koss (talk) 17:07, 9 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Graph theory as we think of it was basically unknown until the Koenigsberg bridge problem. AnonMoos (talk) 14:30, 10 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

under possible uses the function surveying is mentioned twice

it is a redundancy to mention it at the beginning of the chapter and the end of the chapter 2603:6010:A5F0:AE80:CD7B:D35B:7A81:844F (talk) 14:08, 18 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Indeed. Removed. Caeciliusinhorto (talk) 20:10, 18 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Were Roman dodecahedrons ordinary ground holders of a different type of Roman amphora?

The roman amphora has designed as it must be hold on the ground in some way and its look like roman dodecahedron can be used for such purpose. The different sized amphora can be placed as dodecahedron be simply rotate. Emil Enchev BG (talk) 07:03, 30 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Hi Emil Enchev BG, this is an interesting theory, though I confess I am not sure it would be practical. I will caution you that Wikipedia is not a forum, and talk pages are meant to be used to improve the article using reliable sources. In the grand scheme of things, this is a venial sin, so no worries. But be aware that contributions like this--while being in obvious good faith--may be summarily undone. Cheers, and thanks for the interesting thought. Dumuzid (talk) 13:11, 30 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Roman dodecahedron was probably used as a rangefinder for aiming a weapon

Roman dodecahedron was probably used as a rangefinder for aiming a weapon such as a Bow and Arrow, or a Roman Siege Engine.

^[1] ^[2] ^[3] 2601:444:300:B070:F8FC:776F:48EC:78C7 (talk) 02:47, 5 May 2024 (UTC)[reply]

[1] ttps://www.pinterest.com/pin/539587599081104324/

[2] ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rangefinder

[3] ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_siege_engines

[1]

[2]

[3]