In Roman numerals, X equals 10. So if you slap two X’s together—XX—you’re basically doing what a toddler does with building blocks: stacking them up to make a bigger number. That gives you 10 + 10, which is, drumroll please… 20.
Nothing flashy, right? But here’s the kicker: Romans didn’t have a symbol for zero. So when they wanted to write 20, they just doubled the “ten” symbol. It’s like if our modern world eliminated zero and you had to write “twenty” as “tenten.” Try that on a check and see how the bank reacts. Spoiler: they won’t be amused.
But Wait—XX is a Party Animal
Here’s a fact that’ll make you the life of a dull party: XX also stands for double strength in beer, like those “XX Ale” you see in old-timey saloons. That’s right—Romans accidentally invented a dad-joke-level pun that breweries still use today. Imagine a centurion chugging a 20-proof drink and saying, “My displeasure is doubled!” History doesn’t record that, but I’m choosing to believe it.
And if you think that’s wild, check this out: the Super Bowl uses Roman numerals, and Super Bowl XX (that’s 20) was in 1986. The Chicago Bears demolished the New England Patriots, and William “The Refrigerator” Perry scored a touchdown. Dude was so big they had to triple-check he wasn’t actually three X’s in a trench coat.
