Faience polyhedron inscribed with letters of the Greek alphabet

Unknown

2nd–3rd century CE · Faience · Greek and Roman Art

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 dice.

Artist

Unknown

Date

2nd–3rd century CE

Medium

Faience

Culture

Roman

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Fletcher Fund, 1937