Did you know that there are different ways to write numbers? We know that different languages use their own words to describe the same object. For instance, in English the word "water" is talking about the same thing that Latin is with "aqua". It works the same way with numbers, but instead of different words, it’s different symbols.

Today, the numeral system most used is called "Arabic." We see Arabic numerals everywhere, and what we recognize as "numbers" (1, 5, 10, 50, 100 etc). But, you will occasionally find another system for numbers, known as "Roman" (I, V, X, L, C, etc). Mainly we see Roman Numerals on clocks or for memorial uses (e.g., depicting the year on the cornerstone of a building).

The Arabic numerals we all know so well actually go back for many centuries. But, as we see by Roman numerals, humanity has used various methods to represent numbers. And, interestingly enough, there is a numerical system named after the Cistercian religious order. This is because it was created by Cistercian monks, back in the 13th century. Let’s see how it works!

It was around the time that Arabic numerals were introduced in North-West Europe, that Cistercian numerals were developed. This fascinating system was developed to represent any number from 1 to 9,999 inclusive. (In later centuries, it was expanded to include much larger numbers.)

The Cistercian numerals were much more compact than Arabic or Roman. Instead of a series of figures, a single symbol sufficed to depict a number. For example, where an Arabic would write "11" and a Roman, "XI", the Cistercian would write "T". The Cistercian method, in our modern era, comes out looking more like an intriguing code that, once cracked, is simple to master!

The basic structure of Cistercian numerals is a vertical line - a "pole" so to speak - on which one or more horizontal or diagonal lines are attached (with an exception of the value "6", which is designated by a small parallel vertical line.) The placement of these lines indicate the number’s power of ten (i.e. whether it is in the ones, tens, hundreds, or thousands "column").

The "ones" (1-9) are on the top-right corner of the pole.

The "tens" (10-90) are on the top-left.

The "hundreds" (100-900) are on the bottom-right.

The "thousands" (1,000-9,000) are on the bottom left.

Here are some examples of Cistercian numerals.

As you can see, like with Roman numerals, there was some addition involved in depicting numbers. For example, a "7", in Roman is "VII" (which literally takes 5 (V) and adds 2 (II)). Likewise, in Cistercian, a "7" is the blend of the symbols for 1 and 6. For those with an eye and a head for it, it was a very ingenious, compact notation.

There are about 2 dozen Cistercian writings that have survived to this day which include these numerals. They date from the 1200s to the 1400s, and were written in areas from England to Italy, and Normandy to Sweden.

The monks’ usage did not include all that we use digits for today. We find no mathematical equations or accounting among their manuscripts. Instead, the monks’ numeric needs included things such as page numbers, chapter divisions, staff lines in music, various lists, indexes, and other documents.

While the usage of this numbering system was mainly within the Cistercian Order, it did extend somewhat to the outside world. Probably the most notable example would be its use on a 14th century astrolabe - an astronomical instrument, determining the position of stars and also latitudinal position on land.

Limited usage of the Cistercian system prevailed for centuries. In the late 1700s, wine-gaugers in the Brussels area were still using those compact numerals.

It is fascinating to imagine today’s world if this numbering system had become widespread. However, it is easy to see how the much simpler Arabic numerals became popular instead. In fact, when the Cistercians eventually stopped using their own system, it was in favor of Arabic numerals.

Still, one cannot help but admire the ingenuity of those who developed, and kept up with, this complex numeral system. Centuries later, Cistercian numerals provide us a glimpse into the past, an exercise for the mind and an example of the variety of expression within God's creation.