Answering that question comes with a nobel price attached i presume.
What we know is this:
They are made during roman times,
They are found wherever the roman empire stretched and there not considered very rare
Thats about it.
The notable theories are
as a weird currency
well known blacksmith “exam”
for knitting, apparently it has been demonstrated that you can use them to knit in practice but the art of knitting is thought to originate much later in history.
My money is now on wig building tools. As a spinoff to the common knitting one.
My first reaction to seeing these objects was “they look like jointing frames for combining multiple rods”. You’d feed long cylindrical rods into the holes, then use the little knobs to affix them, using them as anchor points for tying the rods into place with string/rope (presumably the rods would have grooves in them to take the rope). Maybe you could make a little tent in this manner, something light, perhaps a bug net for your bed, or something along those lines. Or maybe they were already describing atomic structures 🤓
Complete nonsense, of course. But that was just my first reaction!
I’ve lived for 33 years, 12 or so if those years heavily featuring K’nex and only after reading your comment realised that K’nex is a phonetic play on “connects”.
This might be the highest effort Lemmy comment yet? Great quality on these drawings, clear and concise, and genuinely makes you think and wonder. I give you this award: 🏆
Roman dodecahedra date from the 2nd to 4th centuries AD and their purpose remains unknown. They rarely show signs of wear, and do not have any inscribed numbers or letters.
I’ve seen something like this referenced a couple times now, what is it?
Answering that question comes with a nobel price attached i presume.
What we know is this:
They are made during roman times, They are found wherever the roman empire stretched and there not considered very rare
Thats about it.
The notable theories are
as a weird currency
well known blacksmith “exam”
for knitting, apparently it has been demonstrated that you can use them to knit in practice but the art of knitting is thought to originate much later in history.
My money is now on wig building tools. As a spinoff to the common knitting one.
My first reaction to seeing these objects was “they look like jointing frames for combining multiple rods”. You’d feed long cylindrical rods into the holes, then use the little knobs to affix them, using them as anchor points for tying the rods into place with string/rope (presumably the rods would have grooves in them to take the rope). Maybe you could make a little tent in this manner, something light, perhaps a bug net for your bed, or something along those lines. Or maybe they were already describing atomic structures 🤓
Complete nonsense, of course. But that was just my first reaction!
Revere the ancient K’nex
I’ve lived for 33 years, 12 or so if those years heavily featuring K’nex and only after reading your comment realised that K’nex is a phonetic play on “connects”.
This might be the highest effort Lemmy comment yet? Great quality on these drawings, clear and concise, and genuinely makes you think and wonder. I give you this award: 🏆
Haha I’ll take it!
My personal theory - used as a quick method for evaluating the value of gold and silver coins.
Holes are for diameter, the bumps are used to estimate thickness.
*Nobel Prize
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_dodecahedron
Emphasis mine.
I use them for crafting
Image: a Prime Chaotic Resonator crafting orb from the ARPG Path of Exile.