One names stigma (currently traced Ϛ , ϛ ), of the Greek στίγμα (meaning “puncture”), old binding of the Greek alphabet noting the /st/ group, which was preserved in the current writing only because it is used for the alphabetical numeration milésienne (where it is worth 6).

As opposed to what the eye could let believe, stigma is not a Sigma final Greek (): indeed, it is the evolution of the binding of a '' lunar sigma '' (C) with a Tau (T) which, in Onciale, traced itself (CT) whereas the final sigma is a lunar sigma equipped with a final hook due to the movement of the calame (to refer to contextual Variante for other details). The binding was then simplified in Ϛ. Thus, one could write ΚΟΝCΤΑΝΤΙΝΟC or ΚΟΝϚΑΝΤΙΝΟC for Con' st' antinos .

Because of confusion with Digamma (Ϝ), traced more simply in Uncial then in writing cursive), letter that the alphabet had preserved only because it made it possible to write number 6 (ϝʹ), the stigma (into uncial), from frequent use, came from there to the Middle Ages to replace the original digamma : indeed, the two characters were traced in a similar way.

Currently, stigma being used more like binding, one often replaces it by the two letters sigma and written tau side by side: ϛʹ = στʹ = 6. Famous example: the Nombre of the animal is, in the Apocalypse of Jean, noted χξϛʹ ( khi , xi , stigma ), which represents the value 666.

Unicode

Related articles

• additional Letters of the Greek alphabet;
• Digamma, Koppa, Sampi;
• History of the Greek alphabet;
• Greek Numeration;
• Greek alphabet.
• Stigma, manga

See too

• Stigma is the name of one of butterfly of Geometridae.