1 is "existence," 7 is the "sacred number" — Numbers are not just symbols: The hidden stories in Greek numerals

1. Why the "Greek Numbers" Article Went Viral on Social Media

"In Greek, each number apparently has its own 'meaning.'"
As soon as Greek Reporter published an article explaining the etymology of Greek numbers, comments like this flooded X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok.GreekReporter.com

"It's romantic to think numbers have stories, not just values."
"Knowing my birthday '7' is a sacred number makes me feel a bit special."

Numbers are universal, inorganic symbols—or so we thought. The perspective of "Greek numbers = words with meaning" was a bit of a culture shock for us.

In this article, while based on the content of Greek Reporter, we will take a slower look into the world of Greek numbers, incorporating social media reactions and other resources.GreekReporter.com

2. The Concept of Counting with the Alphabet

The Arabic numerals "1, 2, 3…" that we use so commonly today are actually quite "newcomers." In ancient Greece, there were no symbols dedicated solely to numbers, andthe alphabet itself was repurposed as numbers.GreekReporter.com

• Alpha (Α) = 1

• Beta (Β) = 2

• Gamma (Γ) = 3

In this way, the order of the letters was read directly as numbers.
This system is believed to have been established around the 6th century BC on the Aegean islands and is thought to have been transmitted through trade with Egypt.GreekReporter.com

In an era when the concept of "decimal places" was not yet common, people widely used these letter-based numbers in business ledgers, astronomy, and even philosophical discussions. It was truly a "system where words and numbers merged."

3. From Pythagoras to Archimedes—The Era When Mathematics Accelerated

When it comes to numbers, the name that always comes up isPythagoras, famous for the Pythagorean theorem. The Greek Reporter article also points out that the era when alphabetic numbers were used coincided with the time when the Pythagorean school was active.GreekReporter.com

The Pythagoreans

believed that "the essence of all things is numbers,"

explained the beauty of harmonics through integer ratios, and characterized odd and even numbers, placing numbers at the center of philosophy. Subsequently, applied mathematics by Archimedes and latitude calculations by Ptolemy led to rapid advancements in science based on numbers and observation in the ancient Greek world.GreekReporter.com

On social media, science-oriented users who read this article shared their thoughts.

"The idea of giving 'meaning' to numbers is akin to labeling in modern data visualization."
"Because symbols and meanings are paired, mathematics developed as a 'way to read the world.'"

Learning the etymology of numbers also connects to experiencing the "human touch" in the history of mathematics.

4. The Stories Hidden in Greek Numbers from 0 to 10

The Greek Reporter article compactly summarizes the numerals representing 0 to 10 in modern Greek and their etymology. Let's take a closer look at that content with a bit of commentary.GreekReporter.com

1: éna ― "There is only one"

In ancient Greek, the adjective representing "1" had three forms: masculine, feminine, and neuter.

• Masculine: is

• Feminine: mia

• Neuter: en

The modern éna is said to have developed from this neuter form en. Traces of it can also be seen in forms like "enos (one of ~)" that appear in declensions.GreekReporter.com

The sense of "there is only one" was ingrained even in the grammatical structure.

2: dío ― "To divide" or "To cut into two"

Behind dío, meaning 2, is a verb that means "to divide" or "to separate into two."
In older forms, words similar to deo (to divide) or daizo (to split in half) were used, from which the image of "a state of being divided into two = 2" was born.GreekReporter.com

On X, a user who read this article joked,

"Saying 'we've become dío' during a breakup is too heavy."

Knowing that there's such a slightly ominous nuance behind the numeral makes the number 2 seem somewhat dramatic.

3: tría ― "To stir" or "To shake"

Tría, representing 3, is said to be related to the verb tarassō, which means "to stir" or "to shake."GreekReporter.com

Up to 2, it's "opposition," but when it becomes 3, a "third element" is added, and the situation is stirred up.

• Three pillars

• Trio

• Triangle

3 carries a somewhat dynamic and unstable impression, and it's interesting that this feeling is engraved at the etymological level. Other folklore materials also describe 3 as a "number that brings about change."Icy Sedgwick

4: tésera ― "The second 'two'"

Tésera for 4 is said to have evolved from the Greek word for "second," deuteros.
The image of doubling "two" leads to the idea of "the second two = 2×2," connecting it to 4.GreekReporter.com

Even without a mathematical formula, reaching "4" through the verbal operation of "second twice" is a characteristically linguistic cultural idea.

5: pénde ― "Counting with five fingers"

Pénde for 5 is influenced by the Homeric word pempai. This word evokes the idea of "counting using the fingers of the hand," and

pembazomai = "counting based on five fingers"

was an expression used.GreekReporter.com

The gesture of spreading your palm and saying, "Here, that's five." That gesture itself is incorporated into the etymology of the numeral.

6: éxi ― "Adding one to five"

Éxi for 6 was simply pronounced ex in ancient times and is considered a word based on the idea of "5+1."GreekReporter.com

In Greece, there was a "quinary sense" that used 5 as a unit for counting, and the idea of "adding 1 to 5" became 6.
The explanation also introduces how elements derived from "en (1)" and "pas (all)" mixed during phonetic changes, eventually settling into the current form over a long period.GreekReporter.com

7: eptá ― "The sacred number"

Behind eptá, meaning 7, is the word septos, which means "sacred" or "revered." In ancient times, 7 was a special number, repeatedly used in religious rituals and myths.GreekReporter.com

• Seven Sages

• Seven Gods

• A world completed in seven days

7 was treated as a number symbolizing "completeness" and "spirituality."
The Pythagoreans explained that 7 is formed by combining "4, representing matter" and "3, representing spirit," leading to the interpretation of "7 = the number of unity of body and spirit."Wikipedia

8: októ ― "The 8 born from suction cups"

Októ for 8 is quite unique. According to Greek Reporter, it is related to the word kotili, meaning **"cup."**GreekReporter.com

Octopus legs have numerous suction cups. The Greeks perceived them as "legs with many cups,"