Science

pokerfan

(27,677 posts) Tue Sep 16, 2014, 09:03 PM Sep 2014

The World’s Oldest Twenty-Sided Die

Popped up on my twitter (@AncientPics)

Googling...

Period: Ptolemaic Period–Roman Period
Date: 2nd century B.C.–4th century A.D.
Geography: From Egypt
Medium: Serpentine
Dimensions: Height: 3.2 x L: 3.8 x W: 3.4 cm (1 1/4 x 1 1/2 x 1 5/16 in.)
http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/551072?img=0

17 replies

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Highlight:

The World’s Oldest Twenty-Sided Die (Original Post) pokerfan Sep 2014 OP

Who doesn't love Platonic Solids like the Icosahedron? NYC_SKP Sep 2014 #1

Why are there only five Platonic solids? pokerfan Sep 2014 #6

Well, my first response is that Plato's model was flawed. NYC_SKP Sep 2014 #7

Plato's model was, indeed, flawed. He said there is nothing perfect in nature. Hoppy Sep 2014 #9

Well, yeah... pokerfan Sep 2014 #10

It's your roll. Scuba Sep 2014 #2

Yeah, that's what I was thinking mindwalker_i Sep 2014 #8

Now, Let's Get 20 And Play Yahtzee ProfessorGAC Sep 2014 #12

Hey, Try Long Division with Roman Numerals! cer7711 Sep 2014 #14

Made a saving throw nt d_r Sep 2014 #3

wayyyy cool niyad Sep 2014 #4

Jesus saves, and takes half damage. longship Sep 2014 #5

I'm wondering, by what method was it carved, what kind of setup did they use? hunter Sep 2014 #11

Practice is about all they had for time fill DavidG_WI Sep 2014 #13

Roman version of D&D sakabatou Sep 2014 #17

Dungeons & Dragons but with real Dragons! TeamPooka Sep 2014 #15

Did the find the dungeon maps too? YankeyMCC Sep 2014 #16

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)

1. Who doesn't love Platonic Solids like the Icosahedron?

Reply to pokerfan (Original post)

Tue Sep 16, 2014, 09:20 PM

Sep 2014

Well?

Everybody has to love them!

pokerfan

(27,677 posts)

6. Why are there only five Platonic solids?

Reply to NYC_SKP (Reply #1)

Tue Sep 16, 2014, 10:21 PM

Sep 2014

If you have six minutes, Katie Steckles and James Grime walk you through an informal proof...

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)

7. Well, my first response is that Plato's model was flawed.

Reply to pokerfan (Reply #6)

Tue Sep 16, 2014, 10:45 PM

Sep 2014

I discount Octahedrons and, really, Hexahedrons, as boring and derivative of other forms.

Hoppy

(3,595 posts)

9. Plato's model was, indeed, flawed. He said there is nothing perfect in nature.

Reply to NYC_SKP (Reply #7)

Tue Sep 16, 2014, 10:56 PM

Sep 2014

He was not aware of Republican leaders = perfect assholes.

pokerfan

(27,677 posts)

10. Well, yeah...

Reply to NYC_SKP (Reply #7)

Wed Sep 17, 2014, 12:29 AM

Sep 2014

but I really want those magnets.

Scuba

(53,475 posts)

2. It's your roll.

Reply to pokerfan (Original post)

Tue Sep 16, 2014, 09:21 PM

Sep 2014

mindwalker_i

(4,407 posts)

8. Yeah, that's what I was thinking

Reply to Scuba (Reply #2)

Tue Sep 16, 2014, 10:52 PM

Sep 2014

I fear what a critical failure would mean with that die.

ProfessorGAC

(64,847 posts)

12. Now, Let's Get 20 And Play Yahtzee

Reply to Scuba (Reply #2)

Wed Sep 17, 2014, 11:27 AM

Sep 2014

Might take forever to finish the game. Can you imagine rolling enough time to get the long straight! Or Yahtzee. All 20 showing up with the same number.

It's exhausting just thinking about it.

cer7711

(502 posts)

14. Hey, Try Long Division with Roman Numerals!

Reply to ProfessorGAC (Reply #12)

Wed Sep 17, 2014, 03:22 PM

Sep 2014

MXLCVIII divided by VXMIVIII = . . .

Somebody kill me, please . . . .

d_r

(6,907 posts)

3. Made a saving throw nt

Reply to pokerfan (Original post)

Tue Sep 16, 2014, 09:24 PM

Sep 2014

niyad

(113,049 posts)

4. wayyyy cool

Reply to pokerfan (Original post)

Tue Sep 16, 2014, 09:37 PM

Sep 2014

longship

(40,416 posts)

5. Jesus saves, and takes half damage.

Reply to pokerfan (Original post)

Tue Sep 16, 2014, 10:12 PM

Sep 2014

hunter

(38,302 posts)

11. I'm wondering, by what method was it carved, what kind of setup did they use?

Reply to pokerfan (Original post)

Wed Sep 17, 2014, 10:54 AM

Sep 2014

It's not something a carver could simply eyeball unless they were very well practiced.

DavidG_WI

(245 posts)

13. Practice is about all they had for time fill

Reply to hunter (Reply #11)

Wed Sep 17, 2014, 01:02 PM

Sep 2014

The craftsmen back then where actually extremely capable, what else where they going to do with their time without TV, Internet, Books, Radio or anything else to spend time on other then just perfecting a skill when not ensuring they have food, water and shelter?