Σ ς, σίγμαorσῖγμα(both accents are found in codd.),τό, twentyfirst letter of the Etruscan abecedaria, IG 14.2420 , and prob. of the oldest Gr. alphabets (corresponding to the twenty-first Hebrew letter
A. shin<*>, PhoenicianΩ, Syria 6.103 ), but eighteenth of the Ion. alphabet: as numeralς́ =
200 , but s'
=
200 , 000 : a semi-vowel, Arist. Po. 1456b28 , cf. Pl. Tht. 203b .
A. the oldest forms expressing this sound wereΜ(which is however the old eighteenth letter, q.v.), alsoΣandς; 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 moonτὸ καλὸν οὐρανοῦ νέον σῖγμα: hence the orchestra is calledτὸ τοῦ θεάτρου σῖγμα, Phot.,AB 286 : and Lat. writers usedsigmaof asemicircular 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 finalςmust be disting uished the characterς =
6 ,v. ϝ ϝ(sixth letter).
B. the nameσίγμα(σῖγμα) was usu. indeclinable, τοῦ σῖγμα
Pl.
l.c., Cra. 402e , 427a , Ath. 10.455c , Lyd. Mens. 1.21 ( v.l. σίγματος ) ; τῷ σῖγμα