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Comment by pwillia7 | Hacker News Reader

Why wouldn't it just be a 12 sided die for gambling?

Casting this would be really hard; if that were the case you'd also have expected to have way more versions of it in wooden (or other similar easy to fabricate) form.

Plus, grapefruit-sized feels like way too big for this purpose.

Sure, but rich people love to gamble. Rich Romans even more so. And we all know how much rich people love blowing their money on meaningless status symbols. This is honestly the highest probability IMO.

If it's for gambling, why isn't it mentioned anywhere? Why are there no mentions of games using these devices?

They had no wear and tear. A die that expensive would be used every 10 seconds for decades.

Contrary to published work comments, many dod openings DO show signs of chips/dents, scrapes and cuts (especially some of the larger opposing openings and the largest opposing openings – damage is not just from oxidation). This damage is due to the weapon heads being removed, and in some cases from using as a jig (see Corbridge dod), or ‘can-opener’ pry bar when ‘in-service’ weapon heads are broken-off at the head and wood needs to be removed in anticipation of a new shaft being inserted.

It's the original 'Swiss Army' multi-tool created by Gallic blacksmiths (ordered by Negotiatores/Roman arms merchants in conjunction w/ Roman Auxiliary troop arms officers) for measurement/procurement/maintenance of Auxiliary troop, polearm weapon shafts.

https://www.quora.com/What-was-the-use-of-the-Roman-dodecahe...

I think they would have mentioned if 1) each face had a different symbol of some sort and 2) if the knobs showed signs of having been tumbled upon.

I quite like this and could imagine the expense of the object was because it signified an officially taxed and legal gambling operation or something.

However, I think we might we would see some wear if they they were die. Might see some blobs dented or knocked off if they were regularly being rolled in taverns and such.

It could be a symbol of gambling status, such that by having one your money is acceptable thus allowing entry to certain gambling facilities all over the place.

No numbers on the sides is probably a clue. Now, on many of them each hole is a different width, it is hard to understand the culture and mannerisms that long ago but i find it improbable that could be used in a quick game of chance to see what has been rolled.

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