Definition:Egyptian Numerals

Definition

The Ancient Egyptian system of counting consisted of grouping a number of symbols of powers of $10$.

The Egyptian numerals are:

$\ds 1:$

$\ds $single stroke

$\ds 10:$

$\ds $heel bone

$\ds 100:$

$\ds $coil of rope

$\ds 1000:$

$\ds $water lily or lotus

$\ds 10 \, 000:$

$\ds $bent finger

$\ds 100 \, 000:$

$\ds $tadpole or frog

$\ds 1 \, 000 \, 000:$

$\ds $man with both arms raised, perhaps in astonishment

To express other numbers than these, symbols are repeated.

For example, $276$ in Egyptian hieroglyphics could be written as: