ROMAN NVMERALS

Cue (NZERS), Issue 3, 15 July 1944, Page 6

ROMAN NVMERALS

The almost universal practice in Italy of dating buildings with Roman numerals is soon impressed on the newcomer. Particularly does this apply to the New Zealander, coming as he does from a young country comparatively untrammelled by traditions.

Present day methods of figuring,. strangely Enough, were borrowed from the Arabs nearly 700 years ago. During the progress of' her expansion, the Arab Empire gradually absorbed nearly all the ancient countries of learning, thus acquiring a huge diversity of knowledge covering man’s achievements up -to that time. Mathematics, naturally, formed an important part of this culture. Arab mathematicians - quickly learnt the mechanical value of the figure « nought » — which, according to some authorities, they had borrowed from India. This was most significant, for the addition of «zero» enabled figures in a series to be arranged in ascending or descending powers of ten. Thus was made possible the decimal system. " < .

Frederick IL (1197-1250) King of Sicily, was first responsible for the adoption of the Arabic system by the Western World. He gathered about him many highly educated Arabs, and his Court was, in fact, almost half Oriental in viewpoint. Algebra — essentially Arabic —was brought into recognition by this outpost of Europe. Therefore, it can hardly be expected that any buildings in Europe erected before or during the reign of the Emperor Frederick would bear anything but Roman numerals. ' Indeed, the tradition of dating structures in Roman' figures persisted until quite recent times.

Observe the system of arrang-ing-the digits r on either side of the . numbers 5 and 10. Thus, «4 » translated literally in Roman notation becomes 5 minus 1 — the «1» being on the LEFT of the «V» sign. «6» becomes 5 plus 1 — with the « 1 » on the RIGHT of the « V.» The quantity « 9 » is worked out in a like, manner, i.e., 10 minus 1; 11 becomes 10 plus 1. Follow this principle through when calculating the higher numbers and it will soon be apparent that the system is perfectly simple, although perhaps unweildy.' '

r As examples of the sort of date numerals you will probably see on many ancient buildings both in Italy and other countries, the table below gives a period «tieup » which will be of interest.

1 = 1 XI = 11 ' XXI=21 11= 2 XI = 11 XII-12 XXI=21 XXII=22 III- 3 XIII = 13 XXIII=23 IV = 4 XIV = 14 • XXIV=24 V = 5 XV = 15 XXV=25 ' VI = 6 . XVI = 16 . XXVI =26 VII 7 XVII = 17 XXVII = 27 VIII = 8 XVIII = 18 XXVIII=28 IX- 9 XIX = 19 XXIX =29 X = 10 XX = 20 XXX = 30

L = 50 C = 100 M = 1000 M = 1000 XL -40 CC = 200 CM = 900 r CM= 900 LX = 60 CCC = 300 MC = 1100 MC = 1100 . and \ > and MCC = 1200 MCC = 1200 LV=55 D = 500 MD=1500 MD = 1500 XLII=42 CD = 400 MCD = 1400 MCD = 1400 LXX = 70 DCC = 700 MM=2000 MM = 2000 LXXX 80 DCCC=800 MCM= 1900

cccxxv - 325 325 Council of Nicea Council oi Nicea DLXX T**Z? 570 570 Birth of Mahomet Birth of Mahomet MLXVI = 1066 William the Conqueror MCDXCII 1066 = 1492 William the Conqueror Columbus MDXVIJ - 1517 1517 Luther Luther MDCLXVf = 1666 Fire of London MDCCLXIX = 1769 1769 Cook and NZ Cook and NZ MCMXXXIX = 1939 1939 Declaration of War Declaration of WarX MCMXMV "V 1944 1944 ? ?