Sharp-eyed tourists in Verona, Italy ๐ฎ๐น often notice something unusual on the gates of the famous Arena, where operatic festivals and concerts are held — the number 4 is written as IIII instead of the more familiar IV. ๐คจ Is this a mistake, or is there more to the story?
There are several fascinating theories behind this:
๐ Historical Reason
Ancient Romans used addition rather than subtraction in their number system. So 4 was commonly written as IIII, not IV (5 minus 1).
๐ Religious Theory
The name of Jupiter (chief Roman god) in Latin is IVPPITER. Using IV was seen as blasphemous since it resembled the god’s name, so they used IIII instead.
๐ฅ Social Explanation
For illiterate people in the Middle Ages, IIII was easier to understand than IV, which requires basic math knowledge. ๐ง
๐ช Economic Reason
In metal casting, using IIII was more cost-effective — only a few molds were needed to create multiple numbers. ๐ฐ
๐จ Aesthetic Balance
Using IIII balances the visual weight of the clock face, especially opposite VIII. It creates a more harmonious and symmetric look. ๐จ๐ฐ๏ธ
๐ Early tower clocks were meant for everyone, many of whom couldn’t read or do math, so IIII was simply more practical.
๐ There’s also a theory that Louis XIV (the “Sun King”) banned IV because it was part of his title — "God’s representative on Earth". But many experts doubt this.
๐งญ Today, Roman numerals are used more for style than function, and the use of IIII is a design choice, not a mistake — a homage to tradition and beauty. โ
