Faience polyhedron inscribed with letters of the Greek alphabet 2nd–3rd century Roman A number of polyhedra made in various materials are known from the Hellenistic and Roman periods. They may have been used in conjunction with an oracle inscribed on a pillar set up in a public place. The polyhedron was thrown in order to choose a letter at random. One consulted the inscription to find the matching letter and read the oracle's response. There would be twenty oracular messages, each beginning with a letter of the alphabet that corresponded to one side of the Faience polyhedron inscr
Faience polyhedron inscribed with letters of the Greek alphabet 2nd–3rd century Roman A number of polyhedra made in various materials are known from the Hellenistic and Roman periods. They may have been used in conjunction with an oracle inscribed on a pillar set up in a public place. The polyhedron was thrown in order to choose a letter at random. One consulted the inscription to find the matching letter and read the oracle's response. There would be twenty oracular messages, each beginning with a letter of the alphabet that corresponded to one side of the Faience polyhedron inscribed with letters of the Greek alphabet 253530 Roman, Faience polyhedron inscribed with letters of the Greek alphabet, 2nd?3rd century , Faience, Width (Point to point, greatest): 2 11/16 in., ( cm, ) Width (Point to point ,smallest): 2 1/2 in. ( cm) Width (Side to side, greatest): 2 3/16 in. ( cm) Width (Side to side, smallest): 2 3/16 in. ( cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Fletcher Fund, 1937 ()
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Photo credit: © MET/BOT / Alamy / Afripics
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