Actually these 1, 2, 3, ..... are just symbols. When they were broken away from using them to keep track of things. (like inventory - 1 sheep, 2 sheep...1 bushel 2 bushels, etc) The real math begins !
Number Theory - Far deeper and more complex then you can imagine! Shockingly so ! Symbols with patterns within patterns within patterns!
Derbyshire wrote a good book on the Riemann hypothesis and the chase for that proof!