Rome finally abandons 'too complicated' Roman numerals
Italy to drop use of Roman numerals - which still appear on road signs and official documents - after thousands of years
They have survived thousands of years since their birth in ancient Rome, but Roman numerals are finally to be phased out after they were deemed too complicated for the modern-day capital.
Until now, Rome has remained stubbornly wedded to the ancient numeric system on its street signs, official documents, bills and identity cards.
However, under a new directive approved by Rome city council this week, the numerals will have to be written out fully.
Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, a vast cobbled street that winds its way through central Rome, will now be Corso Vittorio Emanuele Secondo.
Nearby S. Pio X, along which thousands of tourists trek every day to visit the Vatican, will now be S.Pio Decimo.
The directive was proposed by Istat, that national statistics agency, who say they want to standardise, and simplify, Italy’s numerical system.
One of the 'confusing' street names (Alamy)
Although street signs and documents containing Roman numerals will not be immediately replaced, any new signage or identity papers will be issued according to the new rules.
Rome city council said “it had no other choice” than to adopt Istat’s recommendation. "We are following the guidelines," a spokesman said.
However the Italian press reacted angrily to the decision. Mario Ajello, a commentator for Il Messaggero, said the new rules were equivalent to “cultural suicide”.
“Taking away the Latin figures is simplifying things in the worst sense of the word,” he wrote.
“Is it easier and simpler to have no link to the past? Maybe, yes: but it is cultural suicide.”
It comes months after an uproar over the increasing use of English-language slogans in prominent publicity campaigns, with Italians complaining that their traditions were being abandoned.
The Italian navy – or Marina Militare – adopted the slogan “Be Cool, join the Navy” for its recruitment campaign in February, using English rather than Italian.
The Eternal City dropped the Italian “Roma Capitale” as its principal branding slogan in favour of the English “Rome and You”.
It also cut the image of a wolf suckling Romulus and Remus, one of the best known symbols of the capital.
The use of Roman numerals - which are letters from the Latin alphabet employed to signify values - gradually declined since their invention in Ancient Rome, replaced by Arabic numerals.
However, they continue to be used in some contexts such as in the names of monarchs or popes, when denoting volume and chapter numbers, or in sequels of films and video games.
They have survived thousands of years since their birth in ancient Rome, but Roman numerals are finally to be phased out after they were deemed too complicated for the modern-day capital.
Until now, Rome has remained stubbornly wedded to the ancient numeric system on its street signs, official documents, bills and identity cards.
However, under a new directive approved by Rome city council this week, the numerals will have to be written out fully.
Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, a vast cobbled street that winds its way through central Rome, will now be Corso Vittorio Emanuele Secondo.
Nearby S. Pio X, along which thousands of tourists trek every day to visit the Vatican, will now be S.Pio Decimo.
The directive was proposed by Istat, that national statistics agency, who say they want to standardise, and simplify, Italy’s numerical system.
One of the 'confusing' street names (Alamy)
Although street signs and documents containing Roman numerals will not be immediately replaced, any new signage or identity papers will be issued according to the new rules.
Rome city council said “it had no other choice” than to adopt Istat’s recommendation. "We are following the guidelines," a spokesman said.
However the Italian press reacted angrily to the decision. Mario Ajello, a commentator for Il Messaggero, said the new rules were equivalent to “cultural suicide”.
“Taking away the Latin figures is simplifying things in the worst sense of the word,” he wrote.
“Is it easier and simpler to have no link to the past? Maybe, yes: but it is cultural suicide.”
It comes months after an uproar over the increasing use of English-language slogans in prominent publicity campaigns, with Italians complaining that their traditions were being abandoned.
The Italian navy – or Marina Militare – adopted the slogan “Be Cool, join the Navy” for its recruitment campaign in February, using English rather than Italian.
The Eternal City dropped the Italian “Roma Capitale” as its principal branding slogan in favour of the English “Rome and You”.
It also cut the image of a wolf suckling Romulus and Remus, one of the best known symbols of the capital.
The use of Roman numerals - which are letters from the Latin alphabet employed to signify values - gradually declined since their invention in Ancient Rome, replaced by Arabic numerals.
However, they continue to be used in some contexts such as in the names of monarchs or popes, when denoting volume and chapter numbers, or in sequels of films and video games.
羅馬市議會將棄用羅馬數字 媒體怒批「文化自殺」
傳統的羅馬數字系統被指太複雜。（圖取自每日電訊報）
〔即時新聞／綜合報導〕羅馬數字流傳數千年，但最近義大利羅馬市議會通過法案，決定將不再使用傳統的羅馬數字系統，包括街道門牌上的號碼、官方文件以及身分證件上都將改用以義大利文表達數字，而此舉引來許多人的不滿，媒體更批評這是個「文化自殺」的行為。
改制後，米蘭市中心遊客常去的維托里奧·埃馬努埃萊第二大道「Corso Vittorio Emanuele II」將改為「Corso Vittorio Emanuele Secondo」。（圖取自每日電訊報）
改用義大利文表達數字
據英國《每日電訊報》報導，羅馬市議會這星期通過法案，決定不再使用流傳已久的羅馬數字，市議會表示：「我們別無選擇，羅馬數字系統太複雜了」，因此以後只要新發的身分證件都將以義大利文表達數字，像是「2」的羅馬數字「II」，將會用義大利文「Secondo」取代；「10」的羅馬數字「X」，也會用義大利文「Decimo」表達，不過現存的街道門牌以及官方文件不會立即被更改。
而這個提案已經提出許久，不過到這星期市議會通過後，讓許多人都感到更加不滿，當地媒體甚至生氣的批評：「要和歷史沒有聯繫或許比較簡單和輕鬆，但這無疑是在文化自殺」，也有不少民眾覺得此舉是在扼殺義大利的國家傳統。
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