Any Guesses as to What this Mystery Object Might Be?

[mawnansmiff]

Title edited to l/c some words.

All of the found ones are less than 3" tall!

This Roman artefact is apparently one of 33 found in Britain over the years and its purpose has mystified the experts......but they never asked the experts on this Forum so guys, what do you suppose this might be used for?



I initially thought it might be a rattle for a baby but dismissed that idea as I think it's made of bronze so perhaps too heavy so my guess would be something to do with a game of chance as the Romans were known for their love of gambling. I think the different sized holes (I count at least 3) support that theory.

Here's the full story....

Roman object that baffled experts to go on show at Lincoln Museum

The 12-sided object, found in Norton Disney, is being shown as part of the Lincoln Festival of History.

www.bbc.co.uk

Jay.

 

[Sigmund]

Rubix cube prototype?

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

It's a very early prototype of that thing that Luke Skywalker practiced his lightsaber skills on when he was on board the Millenium Falcon. I Googled it and apparently it's called a Marksman-H remote. So now you know.

 

[simong]

Something disgusting probably, knowing the Romans.

My guess is it’s an ancient Roman ‘cock gauge’ heralded by biggus diccus, commander of the pretorian guard. New recruits had to line up & present their todger to said apparatus, if the size fits they were in the pretorian guard, smaller appendages to lower divisions & the smallest of all were probably shipped off to serve as eunuchs.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Sex toy for the well (and not so well) endowed.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

And for those looking for a Tolkien—ahem—pipe connection:

 

[Hillcrest]

It was a knitting device used to make gloves, clothes, nets, rope, etc. : Weaving. All other theories are unproven and useless. Most were found with coins ie: therefore valuable and secondly, most found with women's remains. There is a video of it being used to weave yarn somewhere on youtube.

 

[Hillcrest]

And for those looking for a Tolkien—ahem—pipe connection:

View attachment 306645

"You don't simply walk into a Greco-Roman Archeological site and measure your sword"

 

[condorlover1]

@Hillcrest : Pity. The sex toy angle seemed quite promising from an 'amusing commentary' perspective! I mean knowing the Romans were a little on the pervy side I would assume it had something to do with bottom sex!

 

[Hillcrest]

@Hillcrest : Pity. The sex toy angle seemed quite promising from an 'amusing commentary' perspective! I mean knowing the Romans were a little on the pervy side I would assume it had something to do with bottom sex!

Sorry. I'm not a good historian but I thought that was the Spartans (?). I think you would be better entertained studying the ancient Eqyptians and Mesopotamians. Try the Museum of Sex in New York City for actual ancient artifacts.

 

[AroEnglish]

Something disgusting probably, knowing the Romans.

My guess is it’s an ancient Roman ‘cock gauge’ heralded by biggus diccus, commander of the pretorian guard. New recruits had to line up & present their todger to said apparatus, if the size fits they were in the pretorian guard, smaller appendages to lower divisions & the smallest of all were probably shipped off to serve as eunuchs.

I think the reverse would might be true as I recall the Romans thought smaller dongs were better.

 

[condorlover1]

@Hillcrest : I thought the Greeks invented 'gayness'. Wasn't it one of their philosopher chaps who said a woman was for procreation, a boy was for sex and a goat was for ecstasy or something along those lines. I seem to remember that from my Classics class many years ago at a minor English boarding school. I have walked past the Museum of Sex in NYC but I have never visited since it looked like something from a Austin Powers film.

 

[woodsroad]

@Hillcrest : I thought the Greeks invented 'gayness'. Wasn't it one of their philosopher chaps who said a woman was for procreation, a boy was for sex and a goat was for ecstasy or something along those lines. I seem to remember that from my Classics class many years ago at a minor English boarding school. I have walked past the Museum of Sex in NYC but I have never visited since it looked like something from a Austin Powers film.

What about Gerbils?

 

[verporchting]

That’s the prototype for a Rubicus Goldberg Device.

 

[Pooh-Bah]

There were giants in those days, and their size was equalled only by their nerdiness.
That's a d12, for greataxes and barbarian hit points.

 

[kcghost]

I for one have damned idea what it is.

 

[Hillcrest]

@Hillcrest : I thought the Greeks invented 'gayness'. Wasn't it one of their philosopher chaps who said a woman was for procreation, a boy was for sex and a goat was for ecstasy or something along those lines. I seem to remember that from my Classics class many years ago at a minor English boarding school. I have walked past the Museum of Sex in NYC but I have never visited since it looked like something from a Austin Powers film.

I will have to defer to your expertise as I have never indulged in a Classics class at a minor English boarding school.

 

[condorlover1]

@Hillcrest : Those golden days at school, summers playing cricket or competitive hobbit hurling. Winters sliding around a muddy rugby pitch realizing what the first day of the Battle Ypers must have resembled. The younger generation don't realize how good they have it!

 

[condorlover1]

What about Gerbils?

I thought that was a Richard Queer thing!

 

[AJL67]

I'm shocked, SHOCKED I tell you that know no one here knew what it as, I mean sure actual experts have no idea, but i thought SOMEONE here would know. So much disappointment.