72
Avalanche has a maximum supply of 720 million tokens. But why is this significant?
The number 72 may appear ordinary at first glance, yet it holds a profound significance across various domains of human knowledge. From its sacred role in ancient mythologies to its practical applications in mathematics and astronomy, 72 transcends simple numerical identity. This series will illuminate the enigmatic presence of 72 and its orders of magnitude, revealing its influence on historical epochs, spiritual beliefs, the fundamental laws of geometry and time, and… the most groundbreaking blockchain protocol to ever be conceived.
The Sacred and Historical Tapestry
The reverence for the number 72 is as ancient as it is widespread. In the spiritual realm, it has been a symbol of universality and divine order.
The Bible recounts Jesus sending out 72 disciples, while Islamic tradition speaks of 72 virgins awaiting in paradise. In the Greek language, where letters doubled as numbers, 72 stood for ‘Truth,’ a concept foundational to philosophy and ethics.
The Dvapara Yuga, a significant epoch in Hindu cosmology, spanned 720,000 years, reflecting a belief in vast, cyclical periods of time. The Forbidden City in Beijing, sprawls across 720,000 square meters, a testament to the number’s perceived perfection and balance.
This sacred and historical resonance of 72 and its magnitudes is not mere coincidence but a pattern that has been deliberately woven into the narratives and structures that have stood the test of time.
Mathematical Marvels
In the realm of numbers, 72 is a mathematical virtuoso. As a Harshad number, it is divisible by the sum of its digits, a property that lends itself to harmony and balance in numeric systems. The ‘Rule of 72’ is a testament to its practicality, offering a quick formula to estimate the doubling time of an investment.
The number 720, a factorial of 6, is a cornerstone in geometry, representing the sum of angles in a hexagon and the degrees in two full rotations. This speaks to its inherent symmetry and the ease with which it tessellates into the fabric of two-dimensional space. The angles of a tetrahedron, one of the Platonic solids revered by the ancient Greeks for their aesthetic perfection, also sum to 720 degrees, further cementing its geometric significance.
Cosmic Clockwork and Sacred Geometry
Astronomically, 72 is a celestial constant, with the precession of the equinoxes moving 1 degree every 72 years. This slow celestial dance has been observed by ancient astronomers and encoded into the long-count calendars of early civilizations, reflecting a deep understanding of the heavens’ rhythms.
In sacred geometry, 72 is a foundational number, representing the divine design that is believed to underpin the universe. It is found in the structure of the Flower of Life, a symbol of creation and consciousness that has appeared in temples, manuscripts, and art throughout the world.
The Measure of Time and Space
72 and its multiples have been used to measure our world. The Babylonians’ sexagesimal system, which gave us the 360-degree circle, is intimately connected to 72 through its multiples and subdivisions, influencing how we understand angles and time.
The number 720,000, significant in Hindu cosmology, also represents the number of human breaths in a day, linking the cosmic to the personal and reminding us that our own rhythms are a microcosm of the universe’s pulse.
Conclusion
72 is indeed a number that is indeed far from ordinary, echoing with the wisdom of the ancients and the order of the cosmos.