Questions
Roman Dodecahedron FAQ
Key points
- Every answer is sourced; numbers come from Wikipedia, museum and council pages.
- Short version: about 130 known, 2nd–4th century AD, purpose unknown.[W]
FAQ
What is a Roman dodecahedron?
A small hollow copper-alloy object cast with 12 pentagonal faces, a round hole in each face and a knob on each corner.[W]
What was it used for?
Nobody knows. More than 50 explanations have been published and none is proven.[W]
How many have been found in Britain?
33, counting the 2023 Norton Disney find.[LCC]
Where were they found?
The north-western Roman provinces: Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary and Luxembourg. None in Italy.[W]
When were they made?
The 2nd to 4th centuries AD, mostly in Gaul.[W]
When was the first one recorded?
In 1739, presented to the Society of Antiquaries of London, reportedly from Aston, Hertfordshire.[W]
How big are they?
4–11 cm across, with holes of 6–40 mm.[W]
How heavy are they?
From 35 g to 1 kg.[W]
What are they made of?
Copper alloy (bronze), cast by the lost-wax method.[W]
Do they have inscriptions?
No letters or numbers are known on any of them; most are decorated with circles, lines and dots.[W]
Were they knitting tools?
It's a popular idea, but the earliest known reference to spool knitting is from 1535, and bronze would be an odd choice.[W]
Were they surveying tools?
Suggested, but they carry no markings that a measuring instrument would need.[W]
Were they religious or magical objects?
Many scholars suggest a ritual use such as fortune-telling, and a Tongeren curator favours unofficial activities like sorcery. It is not proven.[W][LS]
Is the mystery solved?
No.[W]
What is the Norton Disney dodecahedron?
A complete example found in June 2023 by a community dig in Lincolnshire, around 8 cm tall and 245 g.[NCWC][LCC]
Where can I see one?
For example the Gallo-Roman Museum in Tongeren and the National Civil War Centre in Newark (Norton Disney).[LS][NCWC]
Is there a Roman icosahedron?
Yes, from Arloff in Germany, in the Rheinisches Landesmuseum Bonn.[W]
Have any been found outside Europe?
Smaller gold dodecahedra are known from Southeast Asia, such as Óc Eo in Vietnam.[W]
Will I pay duties or customs fees on delivery?
No. For US and international customers, all import duties, tariffs and customs fees are covered in advance by Ancient3DCrafts; the checkout total is the final price.
Is your replica a real artifact?
No. It is a modern lost-wax cast replica for display.
How big is your replica and what does it cost?
10.05 cm edge to edge and just under 600 g. Solid Brass US$149.99, Solid Bronze US$179.99. Backordered, ships late November 2026.
Sources
- [W] Wikipedia, “Roman dodecahedron” (accessed Oct 2026)
- [NCWC] National Civil War Centre, Newark, “Norton Disney Dodecahedron”
- [LCC] Lincolnshire County Council, “Mysterious Roman dodecahedron found in Norton Disney to go on display in Lincolnshire for the first time”
- [LS] T. Metcalfe, “Mysterious 12-sided Roman object found in Belgium may have been used for magical rituals,” Live Science, 26 Jan 2023