Questions One Rarely Thinks To Ask

[poliphilo]

60 seconds to a minute, 60 minutes to an hour, 24 hours to a day, seven days to a week...

Who came up with these numbers and why? There seems a certain randomness to them. And if they're not random what system is being followed- is it logical, esoteric or attuned to some natural pulse? I note that everything is in sixes until we come to the days the week. So why not 6 days to a week- or 12?

Maths was never my strong point- and it's possible I'm missing something obvious...

Comments

[oakmouse]

My understanding of the origin of a seven-day week is that it derives from Genesis and the number of days it took God to create the world. That's what i was taught in school, anyway; I've never researched it on my own.

[poliphilo]

But which is older- the seven day week or the Genesis story? It is, of course, quite possible they arose together.

[oakmouse]

Damfino! It's an intriguing question, though.

[basefinder]

If you Google those questions you will have interesting reading to keep you busy for days. But maybe not seven. :-)