Homework for 10.20

 Research online the significance of the Eye of Horus and unit fractions in ancient Egypt.

What was most interesting to you in your findings?

The Egyptian Unit fractions are based on the Eye of Horus. Horus was the ancient Egyptian sky god who was usually depicted as a falcon, most likely a lanner or peregrine falcon.[7] His right eye was associated with the sun god, Ra. It was believed by the Greeks and Romans that an evil heart could get to the eye. The thought to be powerful effects of eyes and optics created the myth that the energy-producing power of the eye had the ability to cast evil spells with just a glance. Because the ancients believed the evil eye could be counteracted with a 'good eye', myths about Horus arose.[9] 

The eye of Horus was often used to symbolise sacrifice, healing, restoration, and protection. 

I think the most interesting thing here is that the eye has so many connotations and it is something almost sacred in Egyptian culture. The ancient people believe in divine beings, and they are choosing the symbol of the sun god to base their fraction system on. This certainly tells something about the Egyptians and their beliefs. They could choose any easy symbol to represent the fraction but they chose this eye. We as modern people could never understand that because we would think that this way of representing the numbers is really complicated. You have to draw so many things and add the fractions together. It is almost frustrating. It's so much easier with the modern number system. However they still chose that symbolization. Does that say something about their devotion to the gods?

Are there examples in your life or in the life of those around you of numbers that have special meanings or are connected to stories?

Chinese people always have these lucky numbers and numbers with bad omen. For example, "four" is the same pronounciation as "death" so the Chinese always avoid that. "Eight" is associated with prosperity. 6 is associated with success/good luck. The Chinese are really superstitious sometimes. They never choose phone numbers with too many "4"'s. 

Also: The number 3 is considered lucky because it's similar to the character for "birth", 生.

九, the number 9: This number, like 五, was historically associated with the Emperor of China. As it's stated in that article, "before the establishment of the imperial examinations officials were organized in the nine-rank system, the nine bestowments were rewards the Emperor made for officials of extraordinary capacity and loyalty. The Emperor's robes often had nine dragons, and Chinese mythology held that the dragon has nine children."

If the other governemnt officials used robes with the wrong number of certain animals, especially animals associated with the Emperor, they are going to be dead. And their whole family will be dead. It is very strict in ancient China. Everyone has to stick to their own status in the society. Having  the wrong number of dancers, wrong number of certain structures in your garden,  wrong number of patterns on your clothes  would lead to serious troubles.