What is Roman dodecahedron?
[[File:Pentdod gruen neu anim.gif|thumb|Computer-generated model of a Roman dodecahedron]] [[File:Schwarzenacker Pentagondodekaeder1.jpg|thumb|upright|Roman dodecahedron]] [[File:Roman dodecahedron.jpg|thumb|upright|Roman dodecahedron found in Germany]] '''Roman dodecahedron''' is the name for [[dodecahedron|dodecahedra]] which were found in Europe. In total, over hundred such objects were found in all European parts of the [[Roman Empire]]. They date from the second or third century CE, and were made of [[bronze]] or [[stone]]. They are hollow, and each of the twelve pentangular faces has a hole in it. Most of these were found on the territories of modern-day [[France]] and [[Germany]], but some were also found in [[Hungary]] and [[Great Britain]]. They are between {{convert|4|cm|in}} and {{convert|11|cm|in}} in size. The exact function or use of the dodecahedra remains a mystery; no mention of them has been found in texts or pictures of the time. Speculated uses include [[candle]]stick holders ([[wax]] was found inside one example); [[dice]]; survey instruments; devices for determining the optimal [[winter sowing | sowing]] date for winter grain;<ref>[http://www.dodecaeder.nl/en/hypothese This webpage also has a map of the distribution of the dodecahedra]</ref> that they were used to calibrate water pipes; and army standard bases. It has also been suggested that they may have been [[religion|religious]] artifacts of some kind. This speculation is based on the fact that most of the examples have been found in [[Gallo-Roman]] sites.<ref>{{Citation | last = Henig | first = Martin | title = Religion in Roman Britain | publisher = [[Routledge]] | year = 1984 | isbn = 0-7134-6047-4| page = 128}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | last = Kilford | first = L.J.P. | title = A Mathematical Tourist in Germany | journal = Mathematics Today | volume = 40 | issue = 6 | pages = 204 | date = December 2004 }}</ref> ==Notes== {{reflist}} ==References== *{{Citation | last = Hill | first = C. | title = Gallo-Roman Dodecahedra: a progress r