History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v1.c7.s6.10

v1.c7.s6.10

The numeral [Figure:] (10) closely resembles the letter *a* of the Brâhmî alphabet. The symbol for twenty [Figure:] appears to be a cursive combination of two tens. It resembles one of the early Phoenician forms found in the papyrus Blacas¹ (5th century B.C.). The mode of expressing the numbers 30, 40, etc., by the help of the symbols for 10 and 20, is the same as amongst the early Phoenicians and Aramaeans.