4/29/2024 0 Comments Number 4 in roman numeralsUsing IV on the dial of a clock or sundial may have been seen as an insult to the gods. For instance, the Roman god Jupiter, the god of the sky and thunder, held the Latin name IVPPITER. Remembering how far back clocks date, and the fact that everyone from the Romans to the Greeks and other civilizations had their own forms of clocks, the reason for the IIII instead of the IV could have something to do with mythology. This makes for a harmonious dial design – something everyone wants in a luxury timepiece. So when you look at a dial, the four single strokes on the bottom right half of the face are a beautiful balance across from the VIII that stands for the eight on the bottom left half. After all, clocks and watches were considered not just a necessity but also a luxury – something only the wealthy could afford. I personally believe the reason for the four I’s was aesthetic. Here are three potentially plausible theories for the use of IIII instead of IV, along with a few myths that just seem too far-fetched. Big Ben, London, UK uses the proper form of four – IV There are many theories about why the four individual I’s are used instead of the IV, but it seems that no one today really knows the true answer. While some of the most famous clocks in the world, including Big Ben, use the proper form of four, IV, on their dials, most clocks and watches use the less desirable form of IIII. So, it made sense to use the traditional form, except for that darn four. Arabic numerals didn’t really come into play until the mid-1400s. This is because Roman numerals originated around 1000 BC and continued to be used long after the fall of the Roman Empire. As such, these classical timekeepers usually used the most accepted form of numerals - Roman - on their dials. Ulysse Nardin Marine Torpilleur Blue Enamel – using the IIII instead of IVĬlocks date back centuries and are one of the oldest forms of communicating time beyond relying on the phases of the moon or the sun in certain positions in the sky. Not so when it comes to watches and clocks. However, almost all of us know that when the Roman numerals refer to the Arabic numeral 4, the most acceptable way to write this is the short form: IV. We use Arabic numerals and are sometimes confused by all the letters: I, V, X, M, etc. Let’s start this article with the admission that most Americans are not 100 percent familiar with Roman numerals.
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