I don't consider the use of either IIII or IV an error but rather a choice
to use a specific representation.
Various reasons have been given, including unsubstantiated anecdotes, for
the preference of IIII vs. IV on clock dials. On clock dials preference is
often given to the aesthetics of greater symmetry when IIII is used. There
is also a tradition of using IIII. I would dispute that IV is more
"correct" than IIII since both are valid and understandable representations
of the number four. I agree that modern usage favors the shorter IV--except
on clock dials. For further discussion of this topic see my Web site
http://www.ubr.com/clocks/faq/iiii.html
To shed further light on usage, the only Latin text I have at the moment is
Frontinus's DE AQVIS VRBIS ROMAE, written about 97 AD. It contains such
representations as IIII, XIIII and VIIII, but also XXIX and XIV. The
manuscript dates from about 1200 or 1300 AD. Because a few of the numbers
(not necessarily relating to IIII vs. IV) are different in different
editions, it is difficult to be certain which of these were in the original
and which were introduced by various scribes. But I think that this
supports the early usage of IIII (and perhaps also IV) in Rome circa 100
AD. Those familiar with early Roman dials may wish to comment on the usage
in these.
Gordon
At 08:50 AM 7/21/00 +0100, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
I've been following the discourse on 'Nought at noon' and
this has reminded me of an anomoly which has puzzled me for
years.
In my school technology course we undertake a project on
time and so we get a lot of clocks and sundials which the
students design and make.
A question I am often asked is why do English clocks with
Roman numerals have IIII (instead of IV) at the '4'
position and most Continental and American clocks appear to
have the correct IV?
Was this an error on the part of some early clockmaker
which was continued eventually to become a tradition or is
there some other reason?
Gordon Uber [EMAIL PROTECTED] San Diego, California USA
Webmaster: Clocks and Time: http://www.ubr.com/clocks
