A Roman rock-crystal icosahedron (20-sided dice).
Used in fortune-telling. Each face has a Latin letter on it, and also the corresponding Roman numeral. The ten lateral faces bear the letters A to K, and the numerals 1 to 10. The upper five triangles bear the letters L to P and the numbers 11 to 15. The lower five triangles bear the letters Q to V, and the numbers 16-20.
This item is by no means unique. A considerable number of polyhedral dice have been recovered from all over the Roman empire. The majority are inscribed with Greek or Latin numbers or letters.
📸 Louvre Museum
Used in fortune-telling. Each face has a Latin letter on it, and also the corresponding Roman numeral. The ten lateral faces bear the letters A to K, and the numerals 1 to 10. The upper five triangles bear the letters L to P and the numbers 11 to 15. The lower five triangles bear the letters Q to V, and the numbers 16-20.
This item is by no means unique. A considerable number of polyhedral dice have been recovered from all over the Roman empire. The majority are inscribed with Greek or Latin numbers or letters.
📸 Louvre Museum
"Terpsichore" — Antonio Canova (1757-1822)
📸 The Cleveland Museum of Art
📸 The Cleveland Museum of Art