the number sixteen
number
Also known as: 16, sixteen
Quick Summary
The number sixteen can refer to a position in a series, such as the sixteenth day of the month, or one of 16 equal parts of something. It can also denote a musical interval or a sixteenth note.1
Symbolically, 16 is considered favorable because it is the square of 4. In ancient India, the Vedas mentioned 16-fold incantations, and the goddess Pussa was depicted with 16 arms. The Rosicrucians believed nature comprised 16 elements.2
Summary created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
3 Britannica Sources
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
