now grasp the significance of the number 12 in the ancient world the great circle of Sumerian gods and of all Olympian gods thereafter comprised exactly twelve younger gods could join this circle only a folder God's retired likewise the vacancy had to be filled to retain the divine number twelve the principal celestial circle the way of the Sun with its twelve members set the pattern according to which each other celestial band was divided into twelve segments or was allocated twelve principal celestial bodies accordingly there were twelve