twelve · xii · 12

twelve is the number civilisations agreed on without conferring. months, hours, eggs in a box, signs in the sky — twelve is what you arrive at when you let the thumb count the joints of the other four fingers, which is a method older than writing.

it divides nicely: into halves, thirds, quarters, sixths — almost everywhere except by five and seven, which is perhaps why seven feels restless. in the clock room, every clock reaches twelve eventually, and none of them agree about when.

midday and midnight share the number; the dial cannot tell which is which without sun. compare six (half a twelve) and ten (the hand's count, which lost). see also hourglass · almanac.