why is the number 12 so important? is it because of the sumerian mathematical system, or the other way around?

Question

12 days in a month
12 months in a year
12 hours on a clock
12 deities in most ancient mythological systems
12 apostles
2012 end date of mayan long-count
12 musical notes in an octave, including half tones (8 is an equally interesting number)
the list goes on and on...

my bad about the 12 days in a month- i don't know where the f*ck that came from. i don't remember what i was actually thinking of when i typed that. i swear to god, i'm not really that stupid...

Answer 1

12 has a lot of factors. Other than that your listing is a forced list. What is meant by "12 days in a month"? Not all clocks use 12 hours. Not all mythologies have 12 gods. If you count Paul, Jesus had 13 apostles. A more valuable number in modern use is 16. The hexadecimal system is the basis for electronic computers.

Answer 2

because 1. you had to ask the ultimate question.
2. you are the only one that did maybe not
3. you are alone maybe in this endeavor
4. you ask a really smart question for us all.
5. you got the extra two points to get to the next level
6. you r probably getting a little peeved with my answer
7. you probably have figured out it doesn't matter
8. you also know that it has been as ancient as the #12
9. you are probably wondering why a lot
10. you must know more than I so don't be offended
11. you also know that the next number is going to 12
12. so u must know that it's not the end just the beginning

Answer 3

Base 12 is friggin' awesome! An you're equally right about eight! An octahedron is the simplist geometric solid to display "tensegrity."

What are your favorite ratios? phi? pi?

Answer 4

math is a universal language, 12 has the same value it had in 3500 b.c.