Σ ς

English (LSJ)

σίγμα or σῖγμα (both accents are found in codd.), τό, twentyfirst letter of the Etruscan abecedaria, IG14.2420, and prob. of the oldest Gr. alphabets (corresponding to the twenty-first Hebrew letter

   A shin <*>, Phoenician Ω, Syria 6.103), but eighteenth of the Ion. alphabet: as numeral σ = 200, but σ' = 200,000: a semi-vowel, Arist.Po.1456b28, cf. Pl.Tht.203b.    A the oldest forms expressing this sound were Μ (which is however the old eighteenth letter, q.v.), also Σ and ς; compared to a twisted curl, E.Fr.382.7, Theodect.6; to a Scythian bow, Agatho 4; after this, but yet early, it took the shape of a semicircle <*>, whence Aeschrio (Fr.1) calls the new moon τὸ καλὸν οὐρανοῦ νέον σῖγμα: hence the orchestra is called τὸ τοῦ θεάτρου σῖγμα, Phot., AB 286: and Lat. writers used sigma of a semicircular couch, Mart.10.48.6, etc.; cf. σιγμοειδής. The rare form <*> is used in the numbering of building-stones in Berl.Sitzb.1888.1234, 1242 (Pergam.). From final ς must be disting uished the character ς = 6, v. ϝ ϝ (sixth letter).    B the name σίγμα ( σῖγμα) was usu. indeclinable, τοῦ σῖγμα Pl. l.c., Cra.402e, 427a, Ath.10.455c, Lyd.Mens.1.21 (v.l. σίγματος) ; τῷ σῖγμα Gal.UP2.14, al.; τῶν σῖγμα Pl.Com.30; τὰ σίγμα τὰ ἐπὶ τῶν ἀσπίδων X.HG4.4.10, cf. Hellad. ap. Phot.Bibl.p.532 B.; later declined, τοῦ σίγματος Eust.1389.15; σίγμασιν Id.905.7.    2 we also hear of another name σάν [ᾰ], τό, ta\ ou)no/mata/ sfi (sc. τοῖσι Πέρσῃσι) τελευτῶσι πάντα ἐς τὠυτὸ γράμμα, τὸ Δωριέες μὲν σὰν καλέουσι, Ἴωνες δὲ σίγμα Hdt.1.139, cf. Pi.Dith.Oxy.1604 Fr. 1 ii 3, Ath.11.467a; as name of the fourth and tenth letters in Θρασύμαχος, and of the sixth in Διονύσο (υ), Epigr. ap. Ath.10.454f, Achae.33.4; cf. the compd. σαμ-φόρας: σάν and σίγμα were evidently pronounced alike; it is conjectured that σάν is originally the name of the old eighteenth letter.