The dodecahedron, a 12-faced 3D object of "sacred" geometric shape, has been the fascination of philosophers, artists, musicians, and mathematicians alike.
The dodecahedron was discovered by that math mogul and father of numerology Pythagoras, who believed that the structure of the world could be determined with mathematics. A "sacred geometry", the 12-faced shape is 1 of only 5 solids constructed using 1 type of polygon (a pentagon) to create a perfectly symmetrical 3D object.
Building on that idea, Plato equated the dodecahedron with the fifth element "ether", or the spirits, which "the god used for arranging the constellations on the whole heaven." Ironically enough, the 12 faces of the dodecahedron came to represent the 12 signs of the Zodiac.
Did I also mention that there are 12 notes in an octave, which can be broken up into 5ths? Pythagoras helped figure out that one, too. I guess it's no wonder that "Do" is the 1st note of the Western musical scale.
Fascinating?
Leonardo da Vinci thought so.
During his work with a geometer, Leonardo spent many a day drawing dodecahedrons in his notebook. And when astronomer Johannes Kepler caught wind of the shape, he began a whole new set of theories on the orbits of planets.
So as we propel ourselves into new media and new millennia, let us know the significance of the dodecahedron. 8)
Plato believed that life, earth, and the universe arise from 5 elements.
