Webinar: “The meaning and importance of Khmer Zero”

Date and Time: July 21 2022| 7:30-9:00pm (Cambodian time)

Free registration on Zoom [new window]

This webinar will briefly discuss the history of the number zero inscribed on an ancient stele in Cambodia—arguably the oldest representation of zero ever found and dated definitively. This use of zero, which dates to 605 of the Chaka eras or 687 CE, was originally found in a temple within the Trepang Prei archaeological site in the 19th century. Georges Cœdès translated the stele in 1931 from the ancient Khmer and labeled it K127. Although thought lost or destroyed during the reign of the Khmer Rouge, the stele containing the zero was rediscovered through the research of Amir D. Aczel, and is now displayed in the National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. We will discuss why this discovery of zero is important within the history of mathematics, as well as its wider cultural and historical significance, and how the ability to represent and use zero as a numeral led to advanced mathematics.

Presentations will be given by Dr. Darith Ea, Ms. Debra Aczel, and Dr. Amir D. Aczel. The webinar will be moderated by Dr. Eve Zucker, CKS President.
Join us on July 21, 2022 from 7:30-9:00 PM (Cambodia Time) via Zoom webinar. The webinar will be in English.

Read more information, visit khmerstudies.org [new window]