Eight has long been a lucky number in Chinese culture because its pronunciation in many Chinese dialects is similar to the word, which means ‘wealth’ and ‘prosperity’. It is also a perfect symmetrical shape. Perfect symmetry lends itself to perfect balance. In Chinese Astrology, perfect balance is considered the ideal.
In maths, above number one, the square of every odd number minus one is divisible into multiples of eight.
In Babylonian myth, there were seven spheres plus an eighth realm, the fixed stars, where the gods lived. As a result, eight is often associated with paradise. Muslims believe that there are seven hells but eight paradises, signifying God's mercy. In Buddhism eight is a lucky number, possibly because of the eight petals of the lotus, a plant associated with luck in India and a favourite Buddhist symbol.
Petra Rebovka's encounter with the number would lead her on a journey back in time towards a dramatic event in the history of the modern world.