Il De figuris numerorum di Prisciano tra questioni di lingua, fattori socio-culturali e bisogni identitari

This paper aims at highlighting the manner in which the Number can play a special role if compared either to the binomials Language-Culture, or Language-Cognition. The Number represents an autonomous category prior to the following, either linguistic or graphic-numerical, representation system (the first one constituted by the Numerals, the latter by the graphic numerical signs). In the Number it is possible to find one of the fundamentals of a natural identity, typical of the human being as it is related to the Cognition devices and to their function, but at the same time of a cultural identity, because differently developed in several communities. A similar complexity can be found in and characterizes the De figuris numerorum, the brief treatise written by Priscian, «the first Latin-speaking grammarian» in Costantinoples (who lived between V and VI AD), to match the requirements of the greek-oriental ruling-class, in need of a different kind of education, who was able to hand over to their recipients their sense of Identity by means of safeguard of the Language.