subject: Why do some Roman numeral dials represent the 4th hour as IIII instead of IV? [print this page] Why do some Roman numeral dials represent the 4th hour as IIII instead of IV?
I delight in bringing trivial knowledge or history to the web.... I know it might be out there elsewhere, but when I can touch on a topic that's interesting to anyone it just gives me a kick!
So... Why do some Roman numeral dials represent the 4th hour as IIII instead ofIV?
There are three theories for this:
1) One theory is that a famous clockmaker was commissioned to build a clock for a powerful king in Europe. The clockmaker printed the dial with the 4th hour represented at IV and showed it to the king. The king informed the clockmaker that it was wrong, and to avoid trouble, the clockmaker changed it to IIII. This explanation seems unlikely, but it does make an interesting read.
2) The second explanation dates back to Roman mythology, when apparently IV was too similar to the name for the Roman god, Jupiter, whose name in Latin begins IV. I representing the J and V being used instead of U in ancient times. Consequently, IV represented the abbreviation JU for Jupiter. It was thought as disrespectful to display the name of a god on the face of a clock, so it was changed. This is another unlikely explanation, but once again, interesting.
3) The third explanation has to do with symmetry. With the 4th hour represented as IIII, you have the first four hours displaying the "I" numeral, the second four hours displaying the "V" numeral and the last four hours displaying the "X" numeral. Likewise, on the opposite side of the IIII is the VIII (which is most similar in physical appearance and size than IV and VIII). Using the IIII creates a more balanced appearance on the dial. This is the likeliest explanation.
