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Sigma (letter)




Sigma (upper case Σ, lower case σ, lowercase in word-final position ς) is the 18th letter of the Greek Alphabet . In the system of Greek Numerals it has a value of 200. When used at the end of a word, and the word is not Upper Case , the final form (ς) is used.

The letter is ultimately derived from Phoenician Sin . However, its name derives from Samekh .

In Eastern forms of Greek writing (used in the European Greek colonies) and in the Middle Ages, the lunate sigma (upper case C, lower case ϲ) — which resembles, but which is not at all related to, the Latin Letter C — was often used. Lunate sigma was frequently used for writing Medieval Greek , and it can still sometimes be seen in inscriptions in Greek Orthodox Churches , for example, the whole of God's creation may be denoted by the word ΚΟCΜΟC ("cosmos"), which in the modern form of writing Greek would be ΚΟΣΜΟΣ. The form of the Cyrillic Letter С {Link without Title} comes from this usage.


SCIENCE

Upper case Σ is used as a symbol for:

Lower case σ is used for ...


POLITICS

During the 1930s , an upper case Σ was in use as the symbol of the Ação Integralista Brasileira , a Fascist pary in Brazil .


POPULAR CULTURE

In a practice similar to Faux Cyrillic , capital sigmas are sometimes used in place of Roman E to give a Greek flavour to titles or text (for example, the film '' My Big Fat GRΣΣK Wedding '').