Editing Sigma (section)

=== Lunate sigma ===
[[File:Madaba Jerusalem Mosaic.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Madaba Map]], a sixth-century mosaic of [[Jerusalem]] ({{lang|grc|Η [[Agia (disambiguation)|ΑΓΙΑ]] [[polis|ΠΟΛΙ{{strong|Ϲ}}]]}}) uses the lunate sigma]]
[[File:Metochion Gethsimanis, Jerusalem.jpg|thumb|right|upright|A plaque reading "[[Metochion]] of [[Gethsemane]]" ({{lang|grc|Μετόχιον Γεθσημανῆς}}) in Jerusalem, with a lunate sigma both at the end and in the middle of the word]]
In handwritten Greek during the [[Hellenistic period]] (4th–3rd century BC), the [[epigraphic]] form of Σ was simplified into a C-like shape,<ref>Thompson, Edward M. (1912). ''Introduction to Greek and Latin Paleography.'' Oxford: Clarendon. p.&nbsp;108, 144.</ref> which has also been found on coins from the 4th century BC onward.<ref>Hopkins, Edward C. D. (2004). "[http://www.parthia.com/fonts/letterforms_usage.htm Letterform Usage | Numismatica Font Projects]" ''Parthia''.</ref> This became the universal standard form of sigma during late antiquity and the Middle Ages.

Today, it is known as ''lunate sigma'' (uppercase '''Ϲ''', lowercase '''ϲ'''), because of its [[crescent]]-like shape, and is still widely used in decorative typefaces in Greece, especially in religious and church contexts, as well as in some modern print editions of classical Greek texts.

A dotted lunate sigma (''sigma periestigmenon'', '''Ͼ''') was used by [[Aristarchus of Samothrace]] (220–143 BC) as an editorial sign indicating that the line marked as such is at an incorrect position. Similarly, a reversed sigma (''[[antisigma]]'', '''Ͻ'''), may mark a line that is out of place. A dotted antisigma (''antisigma periestigmenon'', '''Ͽ''') may indicate a line after which rearrangements should be made, or to variant readings of uncertain priority.

In Greek inscriptions from the late first century BC onwards, '''Ͻ''' was an abbreviation indicating that a man's father's name is the same as his own name, thus Dionysodoros son of Dionysodoros would be written Διονυσόδωρος Ͻ (''Dionysodoros Dionysodorou'').<ref>{{cite journal |last1=de Lisle |first1=Christopher |title=Attic Inscriptions in UK Collections: Ashmolean Museum, Oxford |journal=AIUK |date=2020 |volume=11 |page=11 |url=https://www.atticinscriptions.com/papers/aiuk-11/ |access-date=2 June 2022 |issn=2054-6769}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Follet |first1=Simone |title=Les deux archontes Pamménès du Ier siècle a.c. à Athènes |journal=Revue des Études Grecques |date=2000 |volume=113 |pages=188–192|doi=10.3406/reg.2000.4402 }}</ref>

In [[Unicode]], the above variations of lunate sigma are encoded as {{Unichar|03F9|html=}};
{{Unichar|03FD|size=100%|html=}},
{{Unichar|03FE|size=100%|html=}}, and
{{Unichar|03FF|size=100%|html=}}.