Sampi (San)

In the older period there were two other letters: (1) Ϝ: ϝαῦ, uau, called digamma (i.e. double-gamma) from its shape. It stood after ε and was pronounced like ω. ϝ was written in Boeotian as late as 200 B.C. (2) ϟ: κόππα, koppa, which stood after π. Another ς, called san, is found in the sign ϡ, called sampi, i.e. san + pi. On these signs as numerals, see 348.

Notation.—The system of alphabetic notation came into use after the second century B.C. The first nine letters stand for units, the second nine for tens, the third nine for hundreds (27 letters). In addition to the 24 letters of the alphabet, three obsolete signs are employed: ϛ, a form identical with the late abbreviation for στ, in place of the lost ϝ (3), once used for 6; ϙ (koppa), in the same order as Lat. q, for 90; for 900, ϡ sampi, probably for san, an old form of sigma, + pi. From 1 to 999 a stroke stands above the letter, for 1000's the same signs are used but with the stroke below the letter (αʹ = 1, ͵α = 1000). Only the last letter in any given series has the stroke above: ρνζʹ 157, υαʹ 401, ͵αϡιʹ 1910. α̈ is sometimes used for 10,000; β̈ for 20,000, etc.

a. In the classical period the following system was used according to the inscriptions: Ι = 1, ΙΙΙΙ = 4, Γ (πέντε) = 5, ΓΙ = 6, Δ (δέκα) = 10, ΔΔ = 20, Η (ἑκατόν) = 100, ΗΗ = 200, Χ = 1000, Μ = 10,000, Ι (πεντάκις δέκα) = 50, ΓχΧ (πεντάκις χῑ́λιοι + χῑ́λιοι) = 6000.

b. For the numbers from 1 to 24 the letters, used in continuous succession, are frequently used to designate the books of the Iliad (Α, Β, Γ, etc.) and of the Odyssey (α, β, γ, etc.).