# What were the Gallo-Roman dodecahedra for? · Gallo-Roman dodecahedra > Six answers have been proposed. They were religious or magical objects, used for divination or as symbols of the cosmos, perhaps mounted on… leads, with… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/roman-dodecahedra/questions/QST0D5Y5TKT7BZY/what-were-the-gallo-roman-dodecahedra-for Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:58:37+00:00 --- **0** # What were the Gallo-Roman dodecahedra for? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·6 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: they were religious or magical objects, used for divination or as symbols of the cosmos, perhaps mounted on…** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Six answers have been proposed. They were religious or magical objects, used for divination or as symbols of the cosmos, perhaps mounted on… leads, with evidence 3 for, 1 against: partly supported by its tests. Five are still possible. Of the two narrower questions under it, none is answered yet. ## Why it matters Some 130 carefully cast objects from four centuries and nine modern countries have no recorded purpose⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5Y5KH8522R/beautifully-crafted-roman-dodecahedron-discovered-in-lincoln)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5Y5KS24XXW/roman-dodecahedron-a-mysterious-12-sided-object-that-has). The rival answers make testable predictions about hole sizes, wear and find contexts. ## Answers 6 [**They were religious or magical objects, used for divination or as symbols of the cosmos, perhaps mounted on…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/roman-dodecahedra/answers/ANS0D5Y5WT47TD2/they-were-religious-or-magical-objects-used-for-divination) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 3 for, 1 against Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/roman-dodecahedra/answers/ANS0D5Y5Z0E6FJ4/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**They were craft tools, such as knitting frames for gloves or moulds for forming wax tokens.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/roman-dodecahedra/answers/ANS0D5Y5W2P2Y46/they-were-craft-tools-such-as-knitting-frames-for-gloves-or) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Still possible [**They were measuring instruments, such as rangefinders, surveying aids or devices for fixing the sowing date…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/roman-dodecahedra/answers/ANS0D5Y5VB85TN2/they-were-measuring-instruments-such-as-rangefinders) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Disputed [**They were parts of traps for catching snakes.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/roman-dodecahedra/answers/ANS0D5Y5YGT0VFM/they-were-parts-of-traps-for-catching-snakes) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible [**They were showpieces or tokens proving a bronze-caster's skill.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/roman-dodecahedra/answers/ANS0D5Y5Y165X7T/they-were-showpieces-or-tokens-proving-a-bronze-casters) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible [Show 1 more answer] ## History 1. 2012[Sparavigna puts forward: they were measuring instruments, such as rangefinders, surveying aids or devices for fixing the sowing date…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5Y5MRA6QF4/roman-dodecahedron-as-dioptron-analysis-of-freely-available) 1. 2012[Sparavigna: the geometry of opposed holes of different size can work as a coincidence rangefinder.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5Y5MRA6QF4/roman-dodecahedron-as-dioptron-analysis-of-freely-available)For: They were measuring instruments, such as rangefinders, surveying aids or devices for fixing the sowing date… 1. 2023[Metcalfe: the concentration in the north-western provinces and absence from Italy fit a regional, unofficial practice.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5Y5M0W1FXP/report-on-a-roman-dodecahedron-fragment-from-kortessem)For: They were religious or magical objects, used for divination or as symbols of the cosmos, perhaps mounted on… 1. 2024[Tipper: the Norton Disney example shows no evidence of wear.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5Y5KH8522R/beautifully-crafted-roman-dodecahedron-discovered-in-lincoln)Against: They were craft tools, such as knitting frames for gloves or moulds for forming wax tokens. 1. 2024[Tipper: the objects are complex castings with no two alike.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5Y5KH8522R/beautifully-crafted-roman-dodecahedron-discovered-in-lincoln)For: They were showpieces or tokens proving a bronze-caster's skill. 1. 2025[Guggenberger & Leach puts forward: they were religious or magical objects, used for divination or as symbols of the cosmos, perhaps mounted on…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5Y5JA63M6Y/the-gallo-roman-dodecahedron-and-the-receptacle-of-all) 1. 2025[Killgrove: the Gellep example lay in a woman's grave beside a bone rod, perhaps a staff.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5Y5KS24XXW/roman-dodecahedron-a-mysterious-12-sided-object-that-has)For: They were religious or magical objects, used for divination or as symbols of the cosmos, perhaps mounted on… 1. 2026[Lamb puts forward: they were craft tools, such as knitting frames for gloves or moulds for forming wax tokens.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5Y5N041W0C/a-functional-reassessment-of-roman-dodecahedra-as-tools-for) 1. 2026[Marshall puts forward: they were showpieces or tokens proving a bronze-caster's skill.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5Y5N7Y3ZKW/roman-dodecahedra-as-craft-skill-tokens-a-functional) 1. 2026[Vashakidze puts forward: they were parts of traps for catching snakes.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5Y5NFR2Q8B/reinterpreting-the-gallo-roman-dodecahedron-experimental) 1. 2026[Lamb: a 3D-printed replica forms repeatable wax tokens, with knobs as depth stops.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5Y5N041W0C/a-functional-reassessment-of-roman-dodecahedra-as-tools-for)For: They were craft tools, such as knitting frames for gloves or moulds for forming wax tokens. 1. 2026[Vashakidze: a reconstruction works mechanically and findspots correlate with water-rich regions.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D5Y5NFR2Q8B/reinterpreting-the-gallo-roman-dodecahedron-experimental)For: They were parts of traps for catching snakes. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/roman-dodecahedra/questions/QST0D5Y5TKT7BZY/what-were-the-gallo-roman-dodecahedra-for%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/roman-dodecahedra/questions/QST0D5Y5TKT7BZY/what-were-the-gallo-roman-dodecahedra-for%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/roman-dodecahedra/questions/QST0D5Y5TKT7BZY/what-were-the-gallo-roman-dodecahedra-for%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/roman-dodecahedra/questions/QST0D5Y5TKT7BZY/what-were-the-gallo-roman-dodecahedra-for%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/roman-dodecahedra/questions/QST0D5Y5TKT7BZY/what-were-the-gallo-roman-dodecahedra-for%23add-source) Where it fits Gallo-Roman dodecahedra **What were the Gallo-Roman dodecahedra for?** Key question · you're here [Do the hole-diameter sets follow a common system?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/roman-dodecahedra/questions/QST0D5Y5TVM4YJ0/do-the-hole-diameter-sets-follow-a-common-system)Open · 3 answers, inconclusive [Were they made in a few workshops or many?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/roman-dodecahedra/questions/QST0D5Y5V3E5QNS/were-they-made-in-a-few-workshops-or-many)No evidence yet · 3 answers, untested [ Ask a question under this one ]