The early Roman numerals for 1, 10 and 100 were the same as the Etruscan ones, but they changed to symbols for 5 and 50. So an Etruscan equation for 16 would read as “10 + 5 + 1” and be shown as “I + 𐌡 +X”, whereas a Roman equation for 16 would read as “1 + 5 + 10” and be displayed as “I + V + X”. Much like the Romans after them, the Etruscans would mash their symbols together to create the appropriate number – only they would write theirs from right to left, rather than right to left. The Etruscans did use symbols for bigger numbers, but it’s not really known which symbol means which number. The Etruscans were a civilization that used number symbols as far back as 900 BC, with their numerals being “I”, “𐌡”, “𐌢”, and “𐌣” for “1”, “5”, “10”, and “50” respectively. Rome was located on the southern edge of the Etruscan territory which covered most of north-central Italy. Of these different natives to the area, the Etruscans were the most advanced – with between 850 and 750 BC Roman historians admitting that much of their civilization was based on that of the Etruscans. So, going back to what I said at the beginning of this post, if Roman numerals aren’t originally from Ancient Rome, then where are they from? Etruscan civilization and Etruscan numerals.īefore Rome was founded somewhere between 850 and 750 BC, the region was inhabited by a wide range of different civilizations. You’ll often see Roman numerals adorning bricks above the doorways of really old buildings, displaying what year the building was constructed.Īlthough the place where they can most commonly be found is on clock-faces – even with London’s famous Big Ben’s clock-face using Roman numerals for the numbers 1 – 12, despite being designed in 1852. Used as a means of writing numbers out during the days of Ancient Rome, they are still commonly used today. Nah, I’m just kidding with you – that’s not the article… and nor are Roman numerals necessarily a Roman invention.
Roman numerals originate from Ancient Rome.
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