A). shin <*>, Phoenician Ω, Syria 6.103 ), but eighteenth of the Ion. alphabet: as numeral ς/ = 200 , but = 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. v v (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. UP 2.14 , al.; τῶν σῖγμα Pl.Com. 30 ; τὰ σίγμα τὰ ἐπὶ τῶν ἀσπίδων X. HG 4.4.10 , 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], (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.