The Gallo-Roman Dodecahedron: Fundamental Considerations

The mysterious Gallo-Roman Dodecahedra are one of the greatest remaining mysteries of antiquity. After almost 300 years of research, their function and meaning are still unclear, although over 135 Dodecahedra have been found and countless interpretations have been made: cult object, candlestick, calendar, dice, measuring instrument ... Was it an astral-magical artefact for making contact with the gods or consulting the stars in the hands of people of druidic tradition—or even of druids themselves? The Gallo-Roman Dodecahedron. Fundamental Considerations (2026, 360 pages)is the first English edition of the standard reference work Die römischen Dodekaeder. Eine Gesamtdarstellung (Innsbruck 1999, 2nd edition 2024), which continues to offer the most comprehensive overview of the subject. It has until now been available only in German, despite the longstanding international interest it has attracted. This English version, prepared by the author of the original work, contains all main chapters (I–VI) in order to facilitate easier access to the extensive information presented. It brings together everything that was known about Dodecahedra up to 1999 (interpretations, philosophical background, typology, comparable objects, etc.). The author is an archaeologist and historian who has been researching Dodecahedra since his studies. The content has been edited only marginally; however, all quotations originally in other languages have been translated into English for reasons of readability. Owing to the considerable length and format of the original work, the English edition omits the detailed descriptions of the specimens, the tables, and the Dodecahedron statistics, and includes only a fraction of the illustrations from the German edition. However, this volume does include an updated list of Dodecahedra (Guggenberger nos.1–138). — For an extensive descriptive catalogue of the Dodecahedra Guggenberger nos.1–101, figures 1–132, tables 1–28, and all statistical tables (measurements, find locations, etc.), please consult the German edition (1999/2024). The skilfully crafted Gallo-Roman Dodecahedron is made of a copper alloy. It is hollow, usually the size of an apple, and has twelve round openings of different sizes as well as spherical knobs. It corresponds to the Platonic-Pythagorean symbolic language and was used by both men and women in Celtic-influenced provinces of the Roman Empire from the 2nd to 4th century AD.