Following the acquisition of the abstract concept of number and its graphical representation, man needed to create a numbering or numeral system that would allow him to comfortably work with large quantities. To do this man needed to create a hierarchical system of multiple orders or levels, so that a certain number of units of a level were to become higher-level unit and so on. The criterion for organizing such a system is called “base”. So between us ten units are a set of ten and ten tens are one hundred or a century and ten hundreds are a thousand.
Graecia capta (by Romans)
The Romans came very soon in relation to Greek culture: the last Roman kings were Etruscans, people heavily influenced by Eastern and Greek culture, Sicily and southern Italy were soon colonized by the Greeks (south of Italy is called precisely Magna Grecia, “Great Greece” ); see
http://www.antiquitatem.com/en/paestum-world-heritage-doric-temples
Three times three
In general the Romans are very superstitious and very ritualistic. His conception of the world, in a sense it can be called animist because they believe that everything is pervaded by a divine force which justifies its development and virtuality, leads them to constantly be aware of the signs that manifest the will of the gods or announce the future. And this in turn requires constantly celebrate rites and ceremonies which discover the future and the will of the gods and spirits in order to propitiate his favor or stop their anger. So they do not undertake any action without consulting those signs.
“Symbol” and “diabolo” (devil) are two related words.
It is difficult for modern man to establish the relationship between “symbol” and “devil”, but that relationship exists.
Salutem Per Aquan or SPA, the city of water?
An acronym(from Greek ἄκρος, akros ‘, high, end, tip’ and ὄνομα, onoma ‘name’, “is a word formed usually with the initials of others whose meaning corresponds to the meanings of initial words. SPA is an acronym.
God “Terminus” is the guarantor of private property of the field
Terminus is a Roman god who sets the boundaries of the fields and cities and is also at the crossroads. He is represented as a rectangular stone block whose top is usually included head of Hermes or Mercury. It is also sometimes depicted with male genitalia, given its apotropaic character to “turn away” harm or evil influences. So he is called Hermes.
The boundary stone, the landmark of the roads, is Hermes
Often the traveler, especially Walker, sees along the road or at the entrance of the cities stone markers, landmarks and even piles of stones.
One, two, many
The acquisition of the concept of number and of the terms to designate it and numbers to represent them is one of the most difficult tasks for humans. It must be for the primitive and it is for the child now learning it in childhood.
The ancient Olympic Games
Among the many things that we owe to the Greeks, no less important is the creation of sporting competitions. The Greeks held the Olympic Games for over a thousand years, then the Olympics disappeared for more than 1600 years, and we have recovered them only a hundred years ago.
Love potions and love filters
Against all prediction has appeared recently (late May 2013) in Spanish media a story with three old flavor words that seem move us to another world: witch, spell, potion.