You mean the spaghetti portion measurer?

A new hand touches the decahedron!

Did they ever discover what started the fires?

I'm just imagining a thousand years from now some archaeologists is trying to understand the technological purpose of the fidget spinner.

In other words, they were masterpieces in the original meaning of the word. Masterpiece originally meant not just some great or acclaimed work, but something much more specific. It was the work a guild artisan would use to demonstrate their ultimate skill and earn the title of Master. It was the craftsman equivalent of an academic dissertation. For a specific historical example, see columbine cup.

I really like the "you cant actually make one from a description" angle. That actually makes a lot of sense. Like, you couldn't even make it from memory, you'd have to copy it.

In 1000 years if they discovered Newton's Cradles, they'd be similarly baffled on their functional use case. My theory is that it's just a cool decoration thing

Lenny.world blocks everything they probably don't like your instance for some reason. The images only load for me if I'm on a VPN

Yeah, let's eliminate Grok.

Almost anything is a weapon if you try.

Or finger traps.

In fact, my hypothesis (it's mine, you can't have it) is that the Roman empire fell due to everybody being constantly distressed and distracted because they kept losing their fidget dodecahedrons all over Europe.

Or they will immediately start fidgeting with them and inadvertently understand.

Which now leads me to believe these relics are merely copies of earlier relics that were copied from relics even earlier. Created only to be recreated as the echo of human curiosity.

I think it's pretty obvious they're for playing Tullianums et Dracones. Probably editio III since it had the most d10 use.

There is no evidence of knitting in the Roman Empire, which if it was there is weird when you consider how much art they made that shows other parts of their daily lives and how many deities they had for every aspect of life.

The solid ones would also be completely useless for knitting gloves. And why are these typically found in hoards of money if they’re a part of domestic life? It just doesn’t fit the available evidence. I don’t think it’s a bad idea, but it doesn’t work to explain all of them.

Nah the knitting / weaving idea doesn't add up.

Basically, they can be used to weave a tube, but that isn't really evidence that they were created with that intention.

The bronze would be polished up around the knobs if it were used that way.

You wouldn't use bronze to make a weaving tool just because it's so expensive. Maybe as a once off or special item, but not generally.

You don't vary the size of your knitting or weaving by using a bigger template / more loose weave. One larger finger you would use more stitches: that's fundamental to knitting and weaving.

At first glance it's a nice idea but it doesn't withstand critical thought.