Stigma & Diagamma
Larry Baker
lbaker at accs.edu
Fri Nov 1 12:58:23 EST 2002
Does anyone know the relationship between the Stigma {st} and Diagamma
{w}? I understand that the Diagamma [appearing as an italics English
capital F] corresponds the Semitic Vav/Waw in its alphabetic position
and [thus] would be a consonantal upsilon equated with our English "w
(='double'-u)" [or "v"] as a consonantal u. This letter is in the 6th
position of the Greek [and Hebrew] alphabet[s] and thus was used for a
quantity of six, as a symbol.
The stigma symbol (along with the c=Chi=600 and x=Xi=60) is found in
Revelation 13:18 [=666] apparently in Papyrus 47, ms.051, and many
miniscule mss. of the Majority text [according to Nestle's 27th] (and
von Soden's I-alpha-5 grouping). I do not know why this Stigma is used
here instead of a Diagamma. Smyth's GRAMMAR in #348A.c has the Stigma
[an abbreviation of Sigma-Tau] as a later form of the Diagamma [with the
Koppa for 90 and the Sampi for 900].
Larry N. Baker, biblical languages
The American Christian College and Seminary,
OKC, OK
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