Why Twenty-four hours in a day
How to count higher tan ten on on hand
Most people today count to ten, because they have ten fingers. Lots of our modern world is divided into tens, but not the day. To find out why you must look back in history to ancient Egypt. A thing from a past so long ago that it’s origins are obscured by the passage of centuries of humanity dominates todays life. Have the definitions of time been in use so long because they are somewhat complicated to understand, but so convenient to use.
The ancients used the joints in the fingers of one hand to count to twelve. They used their thumbs use to count to twenty - four, on one hand. To the ancients twenty - four of some thing was a lot. It was a lot of goats to a lot of loaves of bread. Rarely did they need more than two dozen to worry about the number of anything.
First, the Egyptian Tee sundial was divided into twelve parts. The common man then naturally understood twelve. Twelve for the joints in the fingers of one hand. They therefor preferred twelve not ten.
Are we making a mistake by not teaching the natural counting the twelve joints of the fingers in one hand. Twelve and twenty-four always seemed so odd to my mind. I had to just accpect them and move on to the next subject hurled at me in school. I really feel to understand time you must be shown to count the joints in your fingers.
Moreover, twenty - four stars in the night sky were used throughout the year to document the night. The motion of twelve of these stars marked the passage of a night.
Your day has twelve hours and your night has twelve hours because the ancients counted not ten fingers, but twelve joints in the fingers of one hand. On one hand they used the thumb to count to twenty - four. If you use your ten fingers and ten toes you cannot count that high.
About the Creator
Mark Stigers
One year after my birth sputnik was launched, making me a space child. I did a hitch in the Navy as a electronics tech. I worked for Hughes Aircraft Company for quite a while. I currently live in the Saguaro forest in Tucson Arizona
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Comments (2)
"Why Twenty-four hours in a day" by Mark Stigers is an interesting exploration of the historical roots of our timekeeping system and the influence of ancient counting methods on the division of the day into twenty-four hours. The Mark begins by highlighting the prevalent use of counting to ten in the modern world due to the number of fingers we have. The essay then takes a historical perspective, tracing the origin of the twenty-four-hour day back to ancient Egypt. Mark posits that the use of twelve joints in the fingers of one hand for counting led to the preference for twelve as a natural unit. The connection between the Egyptian Tee sundial, divided into twelve parts, and the natural counting method of the ancients is well presented. The essay suggests that the choice of twelve as a unit was influenced by the practicality of counting joints on one hand, with the thumb used to count up to twenty-four. The idea that twenty-four was considered a substantial quantity in ancient times is a fascinating insight. Mark questions the current approach of teaching counting based on ten fingers and proposes that understanding the twelve joints on one hand is crucial for grasping the origins of our timekeeping system. The personal reflection on finding twelve and twenty-four somewhat odd but accepting them as part of the learning process adds a relatable touch to the narrative. The inclusion of the twenty-four stars in the night sky as another example of the ancients' reliance on the number twelve reinforces the essay's argument about the historical significance of this counting method. The explanation of how the motion of twelve stars marked the passage of a night further strengthens the connection between ancient practices and our contemporary time divisions. The essay concludes with a thought-provoking statement suggesting that counting to twenty-four may not be possible using only fingers and toes. This assertion invites readers to consider the limitations of our current counting system. In summary, "Why Twenty-four hours in a day" provides a thought-provoking and well-researched exploration of the historical roots of our timekeeping system, challenging readers to reconsider the natural counting method of the ancients and its influence on our modern concept of time. ChatGPT
That was some fantastic writing! I enjoyed it immensely