Ancient Roman

This is an Early Roman die, made from animal bone (usually cattle bone) or ivory. In Latin, such a six-sided die was called a tessera. Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 10 mm Weight: 2.05 grams Condition: intact – in reality it is slightly nicer than in the photograph; due to the small size it is difficult to render the die perfectly. Dating: These dice generally date from the 1st to the 3rd century AD (the Roman imperial era). Design: The pips on the faces are not mere dots but are incised with a special drill as concentric circles with a dot in the center (the so-called ring-and-dot motif). This was the standard method in antiquity for marking dice. Patina: The dark brown, speckled colour is the result of centuries of burial in soil and the natural aging of the organic material. Use: The Romans were avid gamblers and players. Although gambling outside the Saturnalia festival was officially forbidden or socially frowned upon, in taverns, military camps, and on the street such stones were widely used for various board and gambling games. Shipping method: this lot will be shipped in excellent packaging via DHL or UPS using Catawiki’s Smart Shipping service.

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