![]() This can mean, from a visual perspective, the face can look a little “lopsided” by having IV (two numerals) in the 4 position and VIII (four numerals) in the 8 position.Īs a large part of using Roman numerals in today’s clocks is purely for the visual aspect, using IIII one side and VIII on the other (both containing four numerals) provides a more balanced look. On other clocks, the Roman numerals are much more prominent. The numerals on the dial of the Big Ben picture above are actually relatively small compared to the face size. Were they just nostalgic and keen to portray the accuracy of the past? Just like the ancients, did they too believe that it would be easier for the uneducated peasants to count the lines rather than try and work out the math? Or was one of the reasons below also a factor? The question remains though, during a period when IV was now the accepted standard for writing the number 4 in Roman numerals, why clock makers of the time continued to use IIII. Most clocks of the day were installed in church towers or official public buildings too, which is another reason as to why Roman numerals were favored for these. Those educated enough to produce a mechanical clock - during a time when education and the teachings of the church were heavily linked - would have been very familiar with Roman numerals. This was particularly handy if dealing with other nations, as Latin served in many ways as a common language during the Renaissance period. The Latin language was the official language of the church, and used extensively in official state records and business. It was only during the Renaissance period, long after the fall of the Roman empire, that the subtractive notation of writing and reading Roman numerals became the standard. ![]() As god of the sky and thunder, and king of the gods, Jupiter was the one deity more than any that the Romans didn’t want to upset, so if there was even a tiny chance of doing something that would upset him, it was best not to take the risk! Instead of writing IV for 4, the Romans wrote IIII instead, just to be on the safe side. The Romans believed that everything that happened was not only the will of the gods, but that the gods took those actions based on what the Romans had (or had not) done. Jupiter is written IVPPITER in Latin, and it has been proposed that the Romans were fearful of writing part of Jupiter’s name on anything mundane, including a clock face, especially if it were to fall and break for example, in case it caused offence to him. One of the most persuasive arguments for this, aside from being a little easier for the simple, uneducated Roman plebian class who could just count the lines rather than have to add or subtract things, is to do with one of the most important of all Roman gods: Jupiter. Below are some of the proposed theories as to why IIII is used on some clocks instead of IV, in no particular order of likelihood.Īlthough we write the number 4 in Roman numerals today as IV, there is evidence from ancient inscriptions that the Romans themselves may have just written the number 4 as IIII. There are a number of possible reasons for why this might be the case, and some of them are more plausible than others. The Roman numeral for 4 is IV, but many clock faces will use IIII instead. Look carefully at a few examples of clocks and watches with Roman numerals on them and you may notice some discrepancy regarding one of the numbers. For example, an analogue watch with Roman numerals will be considered by many to be more aesthetically pleasing that an electronic, digital wristwatch. In an age where digital watches and clocks are common, these more traditional time keeping devices provide a welcome contrast and alternative, and can help to give a room or person a more elegant appearance. Many personal time keeping objects such as the watch on your wrist or the small clock on your mantlepiece or bedside table will have Roman numerals on them instead of our more common numbers. Roman numerals are not just used in enormous public clocks, however. ![]() With its four faces, the clock at the top of the Clock Tower (recently renamed the Elizabeth Tower) is a perfect example of how fine architecture and Roman numerals can go hand-in-hand to produce a beautiful and visually impressive clock.Īs we shall discover further down on this page, the clock of Big Ben is unusual in that it features IV for the number 4 instead of IIII, which is more common for the faces and dials of clocks and watches. One of the most famous examples of a Roman numeral clock - that is, a clock that features Roman numerals on its face - is the clock of Big Ben at the Houses of Parliament in London, England. ![]()
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