What's special What's special about number 17 about number 17

??

"God made the "God made the integers; all the integers; all the

rest is the work of rest is the work of Man"Man"

- L. Kronecker- L. Kronecker

17 in the History17 in the HistoryOne of the earliest mentioning of One of the earliest mentioning of

the number 17 was by the Egyptians the number 17 was by the Egyptians To the ancient Greeks, 17 To the ancient Greeks, 17

represents the number of represents the number of consonants in the alphabet, with 9 consonants in the alphabet, with 9 silent consonants and 8 semi-vowels silent consonants and 8 semi-vowels or semi-consonantsor semi-consonants

These numbers were also tightly These numbers were also tightly linked with musical theory and the linked with musical theory and the harmony of the spheresharmony of the spheres

In the Islamic tradition, 17 is the In the Islamic tradition, 17 is the number of rak'a (liturgical gestures), number of rak'a (liturgical gestures), part of the five daily prayers.part of the five daily prayers.

17 is also the number of words in the 17 is also the number of words in the call to the prayer. call to the prayer.

the symbolical number 17 appears in the symbolical number 17 appears in legends mainly, particularly in the legends mainly, particularly in the 17 pieces of advice muttered at the 17 pieces of advice muttered at the king's ear during his crowningking's ear during his crowning

It is mainly in the Chi'ism that a quasi-It is mainly in the Chi'ism that a quasi-magical importance is given to the magical importance is given to the number 17... number 17...

From the ancient times, the Chi'ist From the ancient times, the Chi'ist mystics had venerated the number 17mystics had venerated the number 17

this veneration has its origins in the this veneration has its origins in the ancient Pythagorean speculations lying ancient Pythagorean speculations lying on the letters in the Greek alphabet... on the letters in the Greek alphabet...

17 represented the number of those 17 represented the number of those who would rise from the dead and who would rise from the dead and each one of those people was to each one of those people was to receive one of the 17 letters of the receive one of the 17 letters of the alphabet, making up the highest alphabet, making up the highest name of Godname of God

17 is a 'cult number' - 17 is a 'cult number' - a number which has an a number which has an unusually large unusually large number of fansnumber of fansabcdefghiabcdefghiabcdefghiabcdefghi is divisible by 17 is divisible by 17 (replace each letter (replace each letter with a number. E. g. with a number. E. g. 123456789123456789)123456789123456789)= 2 + 3 + 5 + 7 (sum = 2 + 3 + 5 + 7 (sum of the 4 first prime of the 4 first prime numbers)numbers)

The Italians foolishly think that 17 is unlucky, The Italians foolishly think that 17 is unlucky, and they are very superstitious concerning itand they are very superstitious concerning it

Part of the reason that Italians do not like 17 Part of the reason that Italians do not like 17 comes from their Latin culturecomes from their Latin culture

In fact ,17 is written XVII in Roman numerals, In fact ,17 is written XVII in Roman numerals, which is the anagram of VIXI, which means "I which is the anagram of VIXI, which means "I lived", i.e. "I am dead“lived", i.e. "I am dead“

In Italy, buildings do not have a 17th floor, In Italy, buildings do not have a 17th floor, hotels do not have a room 17, and Alitalia hotels do not have a room 17, and Alitalia planes do not have a seat 17 planes do not have a seat 17

When Renault marketed its R17 and wanted When Renault marketed its R17 and wanted to export it to Italy, it had to be renamed to export it to Italy, it had to be renamed "Renault 177“"Renault 177“

SymbolismSymbolism Seventeen restores the harmony after the Seventeen restores the harmony after the

fights of the existencefights of the existence According to Guy Tarade, it is the number According to Guy Tarade, it is the number

of the Holy Spirit.of the Holy Spirit. According to the Book of the Balance of According to the Book of the Balance of

Jâbir Ibn Hayyân, alchimist and Sufi, the Jâbir Ibn Hayyân, alchimist and Sufi, the form (sura) of any thing in the world is 17form (sura) of any thing in the world is 17

the number 17 represents the base of the the number 17 represents the base of the theory of the Balance and has to be theory of the Balance and has to be considered as the rule of the balance of considered as the rule of the balance of each thing.each thing.

Events Events

The first woman of Henry VIII The first woman of Henry VIII had 17 children who died had 17 children who died before to have 1 year.before to have 1 year.

Shakespeare wrote 17 Shakespeare wrote 17 comedies (at the 17th century).comedies (at the 17th century).

Hamlet reigned 17 years.Hamlet reigned 17 years.It was the parallel 17 which It was the parallel 17 which

divided the North and the divided the North and the South of Vietnam. South of Vietnam.

The first atomic bomb, prepared by The first atomic bomb, prepared by 1700 people, was dropped onto Hiroshima 1700 people, was dropped onto Hiroshima 17 seconds late 17 seconds late

17,000 children have been killed in 17,000 children have been killed in Bosnia from 1992 to 1995. In average Bosnia from 1992 to 1995. In average 17 people were killed each day in 17 people were killed each day in Sarajevo during the warSarajevo during the war

The White House is on the 17th street in The White House is on the 17th street in Washington.Washington.

In France, you have to dial 17 to call the In France, you have to dial 17 to call the policepolice

Marconi used Marconi used 17 patents of Tesla's17 patents of Tesla's

A survey shows that A survey shows that 17-year-old American 17-year-old American boys think about sex boys think about sex every 17 seconds on every 17 seconds on average.average.

The girls having 17 The girls having 17 years old, have on years old, have on average 17 square average 17 square meters of skin.meters of skin.

The football worldcup 1994 started The football worldcup 1994 started on June 17, and ended on July 17.on June 17, and ended on July 17.

The matches of the football The matches of the football worldcup 1998 will be broadcasted worldcup 1998 will be broadcasted thanks to 17 camerasthanks to 17 cameras

Carl Lewis, regarded as the athlete Carl Lewis, regarded as the athlete of the century, had 17 gold medals: of the century, had 17 gold medals: 9 in the Olympic Games, 8 times 9 in the Olympic Games, 8 times world champion. world champion.

RecordsRecords

The world record of sitting in The world record of sitting in ketchup is 17 hours.ketchup is 17 hours.In 1987, Hideaki Tomoyori recited In 1987, Hideaki Tomoyori recited 40,000 digits of pi in 17 hours.40,000 digits of pi in 17 hours.The bridge The bridge Vasco da GamaVasco da Gama in in Portugal, the most important of Portugal, the most important of Europe, is 17-km long.Europe, is 17-km long.

THE ENDTHE END