The Roman Object That Refused to Explain Itself

This article investigates the function of Roman bronze dodecahedra, proposing that their opposed apertures may have served as locally calibrated solar indicators for seasonal and agricultural reference. It integrates optical modeling, archaeological distribution, Roman agricultural writings, comparative seasonal reconstructions, and the Geneva zodiac dodecahedron. The resulting hypothesis offers a testable explanation for the objects' geometric variation and geographic concentration in the northern Roman provinces while identifying remaining uncertainties and opportunities for experimental verification.