Who invented zero? Who was Pythagoras? Why is it said that 6 is a perfect number? Is it true that numbers have magic powers? Numbers have proven to be a challenging and uniting force throughout civilization. From India to Baghdad, from Toledo to Reims, the Mystery of Numbers explores the tremendous history of numbers from the 5th century to the invention of the printing press in the 15th century. Combining scholarship with play, the Mystery of Numbers tackles-in a simple and educational manner-the history, symbolism, and philosophy of figures and numbers, revealing surprisingly spiritual answers at every turn.