ROMAN DODECAHEDRON - TESSERA ARCA (KNUCKLE BOX) The recent discovery of another Roman Dodecahedron in England has reignited the debate as to the purpose of this unusual item. All manner of bizarre theories have been suggested, but strangely none have been correct. Such suggestions range from celestial measuring devices, sacred objects, gambling dice, cunning weapons of war, candle holders and votives, distributors of dog treats and even a device for knitting the fingers of gloves (which it can be used for, just as it can be used as a paperweight). The dodecahedrons are in fact a Tessera Arca (Knuckle Box ring sizer) and were used specifically to measure the fingers (knuckle) in order to size rings that were made from coins . Back in the day if you wanted a ring made from precious metal the easiest way to do this was to use an old coin. However this practise of destroying legal tender was just as illegal back in the day as it is in most countries today so the craftsmen and women who offered this service were usually transitory and highly secretive about their trade. This accounts for the service not being available in the Mediterranean (heart of the) Roman Empire, and generally practised in the North-West of the Empire. As such no dodecahedra have been found outside this region to date. The client impressed and encouraged by the sheer craftsmanship of the dodecahedron, that was a remarkable feat of engineering skill in those days, would slip their chosen ring ringer or thumb into the 12 available holes of the dodecahedron until the correct fit was ascertained. The craftsman would then place the coin to be used over the hole using the surrounding nodules to hold the coin in position whilst it was scribed from the opposite side (from within the dodecahedron) with the outline of the circle. The coin could now be removed from the tessera and worked. Firstly a hole would have been drilled and cut in the centre of the coin. in the centre of the coin, almost as wide as the guide mark. The coin would then be placed on a tapered metal spike and hammered with a soft mallet so it folds over until it makes a flat ring. A bit of filing and the ring is finished and fits perfectly. A skilled technician could thus create a ring whilst his customer waited, in just a couple of hours, and then on receipt of payment disappear into the shadows. Of course there were easier ways to size a ring, they could have used a simple bunch of sample rings, but this would be much more conspicuous and far less alluring than a dodecahedron placed on a dimly lit tavern table, probably with a small candle lit inside to accentuate the object and add to its mysticism and curiosity. The tessera was not just a tool, it was a shop window advertising sign. And of course if the craftsman were caught in possession of a dodecahedron, well the authorities would be totally baffled and have no better idea of its actual use just as we do today. It is hardly surprising therefore that there are no records of dodecahedra being used in ancient Rome or openly anywhere else and that several dodecahedra have been found with coin hoards. It is more than likely that the service and the dodecahedra were not even Roman in origin, and more likely to be Galic, Celtic or performed by some other person. Certainly the service would not have been available to respectable wealthy Romans, who in any case required a much grander design of ring. Tessera rings were mote than likely offered only to the Plebecites and drunken soldiers and indigenous tribes.
@@sailingmrnice nice. I wish I could find one in bronce though. also. I really think you on to something. also since there was wax found inside some of them. The different size holes I still kinda strange through
Nice one , But thi s doesn't really explain the shape or the form. You can really make this in another shape and achieve the same thing , no holes , no Dodecahedron.
I like the idea that it's an anti-tamper device that was somehow used with money. That would explain a lot. It may be that you're over-complicating it. I wonder if you could seal a sack by running the cinching cords through holes and then around the knobs in some pre-determined pattern. And then put your sealing wax over that. Like an bankers' security bag. Everyone knows you could cut the lock off a security bag. The deterrent is that you'd never be able to get it back on. Either theory could explain the existence of the non-standard icosahedron : Some rich guy living in the country needed to send cash somewhere, but didn't have one of the 'official' dodecahedrons, and had to get one crafted locally based on a half-remembered description of one. Still weird that none are found in Italy itself. If roman bankers/treasurers used these things, you'd think someone would find a cache of unused ones.
@@jonviol Matt does not present any real evidence just a plausible theory, no decoding discs, no dodecahedrons with duplicate dimensions, no encoded messages using his cypher nor any proof of his proposed method of switching the cypher by reboring the hole diameter has been found to date, his theory should be quite easy to prove but there is no evidence as of yet. This theory is just as plausible though it comes with it's own problems, why is it just a regional occurence, why are there no records? If it was Caesar I would expect a mention or two. Most likely a Gallic ritual object.
Very clever hypothesis!
A well-presented theory, I don't agree with it but it's well-explained and seems reasonable to suggest. Beautiful Dodecahedron, absolutely stunning.
ROMAN DODECAHEDRON - TESSERA ARCA (KNUCKLE BOX)
The recent discovery of another Roman Dodecahedron in England has reignited the debate as to the purpose of this unusual item. All manner of bizarre theories have been suggested, but strangely none have been correct. Such suggestions range from celestial measuring devices, sacred objects, gambling dice, cunning weapons of war, candle holders and votives, distributors of dog treats and even a device for knitting the fingers of gloves (which it can be used for, just as it can be used as a paperweight).
The dodecahedrons are in fact a Tessera Arca (Knuckle Box ring sizer) and were used specifically to measure the fingers (knuckle) in order to size rings that were made from coins . Back in the day if you wanted a ring made from precious metal the easiest way to do this was to use an old coin. However this practise of destroying legal tender was just as illegal back in the day as it is in most countries today so the craftsmen and women who offered this service were usually transitory and highly secretive about their trade. This accounts for the service not being available in the Mediterranean (heart of the) Roman Empire, and generally practised in the North-West of the Empire. As such no dodecahedra have been found outside this region to date.
The client impressed and encouraged by the sheer craftsmanship of the dodecahedron, that was a remarkable feat of engineering skill in those days, would slip their chosen ring ringer or thumb into the 12 available holes of the dodecahedron until the correct fit was ascertained. The craftsman would then place the coin to be used over the hole using the surrounding nodules to hold the coin in position whilst it was scribed from the opposite side (from within the dodecahedron) with the outline of the circle.
The coin could now be removed from the tessera and worked. Firstly a hole would have been drilled and cut in the centre of the coin. in the centre of the coin, almost as wide as the guide mark. The coin would then be placed on a tapered metal spike and hammered with a soft mallet so it folds over until it makes a flat ring. A bit of filing and the ring is finished and fits perfectly.
A skilled technician could thus create a ring whilst his customer waited, in just a couple of hours, and then on receipt of payment disappear into the shadows. Of course there were easier ways to size a ring, they could have used a simple bunch of sample rings, but this would be much more conspicuous and far less alluring than a dodecahedron placed on a dimly lit tavern table, probably with a small candle lit inside to accentuate the object and add to its mysticism and curiosity. The tessera was not just a tool, it was a shop window advertising sign. And of course if the craftsman were caught in possession of a dodecahedron, well the authorities would be totally baffled and have no better idea of its actual use just as we do today.
It is hardly surprising therefore that there are no records of dodecahedra being used in ancient Rome or openly anywhere else and that several dodecahedra have been found with coin hoards. It is more than likely that the service and the dodecahedra were not even Roman in origin, and more likely to be Galic, Celtic or performed by some other person. Certainly the service would not have been available to respectable wealthy Romans, who in any case required a much grander design of ring. Tessera rings were mote than likely offered only to the Plebecites and drunken soldiers and indigenous tribes.
Volume is very low
nice!; where can I buy one?
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/145661670826?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=h4ymn27QS7C&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=deOn5df1QW-&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
@@sailingmrnice nice. I wish I could find one in bronce though.
also. I really think you on to something. also since there was wax found inside some of them.
The different size holes I still kinda strange through
Nice one , But thi s doesn't really explain the shape or the form. You can really make this in another shape and achieve the same thing , no holes , no Dodecahedron.
It's complicated to stop a copy being made.
I like the idea that it's an anti-tamper device that was somehow used with money. That would explain a lot.
It may be that you're over-complicating it. I wonder if you could seal a sack by running the cinching cords through holes and then around the knobs in some pre-determined pattern. And then put your sealing wax over that. Like an bankers' security bag. Everyone knows you could cut the lock off a security bag. The deterrent is that you'd never be able to get it back on.
Either theory could explain the existence of the non-standard icosahedron : Some rich guy living in the country needed to send cash somewhere, but didn't have one of the 'official' dodecahedrons, and had to get one crafted locally based on a half-remembered description of one.
Still weird that none are found in Italy itself. If roman bankers/treasurers used these things, you'd think someone would find a cache of unused ones.
I'm pretty sure it was used for long distance money transfers for the military at the outer reaches of the Empire. Hence not in Italy.
Too complicated . Its a code machine with wheels .
Nonsense
@@sailingmrnice Check out Matt Geevan . Its part of a code communicataion system with wheel or discs .
@@jonviol Matt does not present any real evidence just a plausible theory, no decoding discs, no dodecahedrons with duplicate dimensions, no encoded messages using his cypher nor any proof of his proposed method of switching the cypher by reboring the hole diameter has been found to date, his theory should be quite easy to prove but there is no evidence as of yet.
This theory is just as plausible though it comes with it's own problems, why is it just a regional occurence, why are there no records?
If it was Caesar I would expect a mention or two.
Most likely a Gallic ritual object.