The Natural History of the Roman Numerals

Abstract

SOME time ago I had the pleasure of reading in your journal (vol. xxxvi. p. 555) an interesting article by Mr. Lymburn on the above subject. In this the writer shows the probable evolution of the X ten, V from the hand, and thence the broad arrow, ↑. As the Scandinavians used this arrow sign, calling it tir or tyr, as an equivalent for T in the Runes (see Taylor, “The Alphabet,” vol. ii., p. 18), it is therefore connected with the Greek tau, the headless cross, the X of the Semitic languages. I have no doubt that many of your readers take an interest in anything bearing on this subject. This is my apology for calling their attention to an article published in the last volume of Transactions of the New Zealand Institute¹, wherein I break new ground by showing that the word tau was known in Polynesia as a cross, as ten, and probably as meaning “writing.”