Sigma (letter)

From Freepedia

Greek alphabet
Α α Alpha	Β β Beta
Γ γ Gamma	Δ δ Delta
Ε ε Epsilon	Ζ ζ Zeta
Η η Eta	Θ θ Theta
Ι ι Iota	Κ κ Kappa
Λ λ Lambda	Μ μ Mu
Ν ν Nu	Ξ ξ Xi
Ο ο Omicron	Π π Pi
Ρ ρ Rho	Σ σ Sigma
Τ τ Tau	Υ υ Upsilon
Φ φ Phi	Χ χ Chi
Ψ ψ Psi	Ω ω Omega
obsolete letters
Ϝ ϝ Digamma	Ϻ ϻ San
Ϙ ϙ Qoppa	Ϡ ϡ Sampi

Sigma (upper case Σ, lower case σ, lowercase in word-final position ς) is the 18th letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 200. When used at the end of a word, and the word is not upper case, the final form (ς) is used.

In Eastern forms of Greek writing (used in the European Greek colonies) and in the Middle Ages, the "lunate sigma" that looks like the letter C was often used. It can still sometimes be seen in inscriptions in Greek Orthodox churches, for example, where, for example, the whole of God's creation may be denoted by the word ΚΟCΜΟC (cosmos), which in the modern form of writing Greek would be ΚΟΣΜΟΣ.

In a practice similar to faux Cyrillic, capital sigmas are sometimes used in place of Roman Es to give a Greek flavour to titles or text (for example, the film My Big Fat GRΣΣK Wedding). Other times sigma may be outright confused for E such as the case of ΙΧΘΥΣ. To Greek people, as well as those who have studied ancient or modern Greek or technical fields in which the letter is used, this seems ridiculous as the similarity is superficial, not phonological.

See also

• Sigma – for other meanings.