Faience polyhedron inscribed with letters of the Greek alphabet

Faience polyhedron inscribed with letters of the Greek alphabet

Faience polyhedron inscribed with letters of the Greek alphabet. Culture: Roman. Dimensions: Width (Point to point, greatest): 2 11/16 in., 7.2oz. (6.8 cm, 204.9g) Width (Point to point ,smallest): 2 1/2 in. (6.3 cm) Width (Side to side, greatest): 2 3/16 in. (5.6 cm) Width (Side to side, smallest): 2 3/16 in. (5.5 cm). Date: 2nd-3rd century A.D.. A number of polyhedra made in various materials are known from the Hellenistic and Roman periods. They may have been used in conjunction with an oracle inscribed on a pillar set up in a public place. The polyhedron was thrown in order to choose a letter at random. One consulted the inscription to find the matching letter and read the oracle's response. There would be twenty oracular messages, each beginning with a letter of the alphabet that corresponded to one side of the dice.

FAIENCE

Mid Imperial

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA

ROMAN EMPIRE

Album / Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY

Model: No - Property: No
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3981 x 3982 px | 45.4 MB

33.7 x 33.7 cm | 13.3 x 13.3 in (300 dpi)