Unsolved Ancient Mystery - Game Piece or Candle Holder

[Skywizard]

A Roman dodecahedron is a small hollow object made of bronze or stone with a dodecahedral shape: twelve flat pentagonal faces, each having a circular hole in the middle which connects to the hollowed-out center (wonder if the stone ones were hollowed out on the inside also). Roman dodecahedras have been found all across Europe and date from the 2nd or 3rd centuries CE.

About the only thing that archaeologists have done – is name the objects. The function or use of the dodecahedra remains a mystery; no mention of them has been found in contemporary accounts or pictures of the time. Speculated uses include candlestick holders; dice; survey instruments; and that they were used to calibrate water pipes. It has also been suggested that they may have been religious artifacts of some kind. This latter speculation is based on the fact that most of the examples have been found in Gallo-Roman sites.

20734

Our ancestors were amazing craftsmen.

peace…
skywizard

[Lifebringer]

Chrystal holder?

[Craig]

A 3D key, plug it into a lock and can turn on more than one axis?

[Hervé]

The closest I can come to that is something called "Boule Aux Rats" as seen in sculptures in some churches and cathedrals:


https://fwtinw.bn1.livefilestore.com/y1pLnv_MZOh33NaFXmLDSzX2pJHdZ4jt6iM0rqDPT1-aAO_YHVq1ThTTvHb_S4Ljp_yyI1unN5bW3X5cGs9zK0iP5do1JR_NRpI/Boule%20aux%20Rats-Carpentras-05.jpg?psid=1


https://fwtinw.bn1.livefilestore.com/y1ppEOBN95y5fJ2r0vQXCSXQK-9q3alnr9gBvuCQtVfX_OmFz-eMnimy3FwxWdAftY8gUgg8RyH1SaEzBA8cH0o_L6eiLmr5Z9l/Boule%20aux%20Rats-Carpentras-01.JPG?psid=1


https://fwtinw.bn1.livefilestore.com/y1p2iXuUR2y7jQOmnDsG7jPbftwBt5qUEqEsMirh0IWD6ClgGmqJiPc--miS9EKszNOW1Mqmqc_IC9Mg5adkD4eyzHR5pFSOxDS/Boule%20aux%20Rats-Carpentras-02.jpg?psid=1



The Gypsy/Tzigan tradition recognizes it as a symbol of gathering, by analogy, since rats migrates in hords. These signs would designate a path taken by initiates along certain occult geographical locations tied to Chartres and Les Saintes Marie de la Mer as sacred sites. The ball is a reminder of the spiral which is also the hieroglyph attributed to the rat. The path could also represent the "labyrinth" which is also a symbolic initiatic path of which, the one at Chartres, is the most famous.

As a side note, the layout of the cathedrals dedicated to the the "Virgin Mary" in France, replicate the geometry of the constellation Virgo; in much the same way that the Pyramids in Egypt match the Orion Belt geometry. These cathedrals were built on top of energy vortices and if there ever was an indication that this universe is a holographic/fractalian universe, that would do.

[QueenKat]

They could possibly be used for molding anything perfectly round...cups, the water pipes, gauntlets,etc.?

[MargueriteBee]

Looks more like some kind of gear, machinery.

[Ammit]

I think I seen something like this before but will rack my brains trying to remember.
It also has a larger hole bottom front which I imagine if sat on that hole could as mentioned be a candle tool which I suppose could create weak beams of light for religious events. The trouble with items like this, they could be anything from a bed post ornament to a mad cap early days art studant's latest works...

[sheme]

The knobs look smooth my guess is it is a kind of French knitting tool, fancy knot maker,cord maker, net maker, remember the cotton reel knitting we did as children?

[conk]

Just a physical representation of sacred geometry? I like the 3D key idea.

[shadowstalker]

A Roman dodecahedron is a small hollow object made of bronze or stone with a dodecahedral shape: twelve flat pentagonal faces, each having a circular hole in the middle which connects to the hollowed-out center (wonder if the stone ones were hollowed out on the inside also). Roman dodecahedras have been found all across Europe and date from the 2nd or 3rd centuries CE.

About the only thing that archaeologists have done – is name the objects. The function or use of the dodecahedra remains a mystery; no mention of them has been found in contemporary accounts or pictures of the time. Speculated uses include candlestick holders; dice; survey instruments; and that they were used to calibrate water pipes. It has also been suggested that they may have been religious artifacts of some kind. This latter speculation is based on the fact that most of the examples have been found in Gallo-Roman sites.

20734

Our ancestors were amazing craftsmen.

peace…
skywizard

Has anyone tried putting a tuning fork on it?

[Conchis]

netsuke maybe?

[noprophet]

I want to wind string around it. :P