The Hidden Base-12 Heritage in the Dodecagon's Name  

In the realm of geometry, the dodecagon stands as a testament to the harmony of twelve, a number revered across cultures for its symmetry and completeness. But why is it called a dodecagon?

Diving into the etymology of the dodecagon from a base-12 perspective unveils a fascinating narrative, suggesting a deep-seated historical preference for base-12 mathematics that might have been lost to time. 

Decoding "Dodecagon" 

• Dodeca-: From Greek, meaning twelve. In our exploration, we interpret this as "do" from base-12, where "do" represents twelve, akin to "ten" in base-10 for ten. We see this prefix in the word for a dozen: "do" zen, referring to twelve. 

• -gon: From Greek "gōnia," meaning angle or corner, hence "sided." 

From a base-12 viewpoint, "dodecagon" can be seen as "do-dec-agon," where: 

• "Do" signifies twelve, the total number of sides. 

• "Dec" hints at ten, not in the conventional sense of base-10, but as "dec" in base-12, which is ten in base-10. 

This interpretation suggests that there was an original term for a twelve sided object that contained a connection to the value of ten, where each side of the dodecagon (a twelve sided shape), is further divided into tenths. Here, we see a dual reference to both twelve and ten, embedded within the name itself, and this geometric connection is precisely what emerges from the geometry of the base-12 dodecagon. 

It is possible that the original term "dodecagon" was actually reserved for the specific geometric shape we have now rediscovered, that contains twelve sides, with each side further divided into tenths. Was this the original twelve-sided shape, with its relevance to the geometry of the circle already known to be foundational, and given prestige accordingly? Slowly we are realizing that this newly discovered shape, this "base-12" dodecagon, was known by a culture long ago, and its description is buried in the precise meaning of its name. 

Linguistic Echoes within Base-12 Mathematics 

The presence of "dec" within "dodecagon" isn't isolated. The term "decade," for instance, also carries "dec," reflecting a period of ten years.  A decathlon is an Olympic event with ten sports combined. A Decapod is a crustacean with ten legs, like a shrimp or crab, and the decimal system itself, as we know, is built in tens. From our perspective, there is a subtle nod to base-12's "dec" in all these words.

This recurring linguistic pattern indicates that base-12 is not just a mathematical system, but was a cultural and linguistic foundation, now obscured by time. We are now using modern words which embody mathematical concepts born centuries ago.  

Evidence of Ancient Base-12 Usage 

• Historical Artifacts: Many ancient civilizations, like the Sumerians and Babylonians, used base-60, which is divisible by 12. This preference for numbers divisible by twelve might suggest a broader, perhaps more common, use of base-12 in everyday life. 

• Cultural Symbols: The zodiac, with its twelve signs, or the twelve months of the year, could be remnants of a time when base-12 was integral to societal organization. 

• Mathematical Precision: The dodecagon's symmetry and its relation to the circle (360 degrees, divisible by 12) might hint at a mathematical sophistication where base-12 was not just convenient but fundamental. 

The Hypothesis of Lost Civilizations using Dozenal Geometry 

This exploration leads us to ponder: could there have been civilizations, perhaps predating those we currently recognize as ancient, that mastered base-12 mathematics? The remnants of such knowledge might be scattered across our language, architecture and cultural practices, waiting to be pieced together. 

• Lost Knowledge: If true, this suggests a period of advanced mathematical understanding that was later forgotten or overshadowed by the rise of base-10 systems, possibly due to shifts in cultural or practical needs. 

• Rediscovering the Past: By re-examining our mathematical and linguistic heritage through the lens of base-12, we might uncover not just numerical systems but insights into ancient thought, philosophy and perhaps even technology. 

Conclusion 

The dodecagon, with its name full of base-12 terminology, serves as a portal to a potentially forgotten era where base-12 mathematics was not just theoretical but practical and pervasive. This blog post is part of a series aimed at exploring these connections, inviting readers to consider the numbers we use daily as windows into ancient wisdom. 

Join us in this journey of rediscovery, where each numeral and geometric shape might hold clues to civilizations that once thrived, perhaps with a mathematical elegance we are only beginning to appreciate anew.