Respecting the origin of the numeral figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
there are various opinions, but the one most generally received is, that
they were brought into Europe from Spain; that the Spaniards received
them from the Moors, the Moors from the Arabians, and the Arabians from
the Indians.
Bishop Huet, however, thinks it improbable that the Arabians received
figures from the Indians, but, on the contrary, that the Indians
obtained them from the Arabians, and the Arabians from the Grecians;
from whom, in fact, they acquired a knowledge of every science they
possessed. The shape of the figures they received underwent a great
alteration; yet if we examine them, divested of prejudice, we shall find
very manifest traces of the Grecian figures, which were nothing more
than letters of their alphabet.
A small comma, or dot, was their mark for units.
The letter β (b) if its two extremities are erased, produces the figure
2.
If we form the letter γ (g) with more inclination to the left than
usual, shorten the foot, and give some rotundity to the left horns near
the left side, we shall make the figure 3.
The letter Δ (D) is the figure 4, as we should find on giving the left
leg a perpendicular form, and lengthening it below the base, which also
should be enlarged towards the left.
From the ε (e short) is formed the 5, by only bringing towards the right
side the demicircle which is beneath inclining to the left.
From the figure 5 they made the 6, by leaving out the foot, and rounding
the body.
Of the Ζ (Z) they make the 7, by leaving out the base.
If we turn the four corners of the Η (e long) towards the inside, we
shall make the figure 8.
The ϑ (th) was the figure 9 without any alteration.
The _nought_ was only a point which they added to their figures, to make
them ten times more; it was necessary that this point should be made
very distinctly, to which end they formed it like a circle, and filled
it up; this method we have neglected.
Theophanus, the Eastern chronologist, says in express terms, that the
Arabians had retained the Grecian numbers, not having sufficient
characters in their own language to mark them.
Menage says, they were first employed in Europe in 1240, in the
Alphonsian Tables, made under the direction of Alphonso, son to king
Ferdinand of Castile, by Isaac Hazan, a Jew of Toledo, and Abel Ragel,
an Arabian. Dr. Wallis conceives they were generally used in England
about the year 1130.
In the indexes of some old French books these figures are called Arabic
ciphers, to distinguish them from Roman numerals.