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Connecting Math: Just for Fun #8
Math and History

Why does a week have seven days?

No one knows exactly where and when the seven days week got started, but it is known to be extremely ancient.  The most common theory about its origin relates the seven days to the ancient astrological idea that there were seven celestial bodies revolving around the stationary Earth.

For thousands of years, the astrological seven days week was used in Mesopotamia.  The Egyptians, who then passed it on to the Greeks, adopted it. In 321 AD, Constantine The Great added the seven day week to the Roman calendar, making the first day a day of rest and worship.

What were the days of the Roman week?  They were Dies Solis (Sun's Day), Dies
Lunae (Moon's Day), Dies Martis (Mars's Day), Dies Mercurii (Mercury's Day),
Dies Iovis (Jupiter's Day), Dies Veneris (Venus's Day), and Dies Saturni (Saturn's Day).

Maria Dumitru, 3rd grade
"Duiliu Zamfirescu" School, Focsani, Romania
Teacher: Petru Dumitru