Sampi (letter) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Sampi uc lc.svg
Greek alphabet
Αα Alpha Νν Nu
Ββ Beta Ξξ Xi
Γγ Gamma Οο Omicron
Δδ Delta Ππ Pi
Εε Epsilon Ρρ Rho
Ζζ Zeta Σσς Sigma
Ηη Eta Ττ Tau
Θθ Theta Υυ Upsilon
Ιι Iota Φφ Phi
Κκ Kappa Χχ Chi
Λλ Lambda Ψψ Psi
Μμ Mu Ωω Omega
Other letters
Ϝϝ Digamma Ⱶⱶ Heta
Ϻϻ San Ϙϙ Koppa
Ϡϡ Sampi Ϛϛ Stigma
Ϸϸ Sho
For other uses, see Sampi.

Sampi or Disigma is a mysterious Greek symbol. Its meaning is still debated today. At the moment it is thought by some that it is a letter for the number "900" used in the system of Greek numerals. And others believe it to be a replacement of 'san'. Before that, it was a letter that was used in the Greek alphabet in a few Greek cities in the 5th century BC. At that time, it looked like Greek Sampi Ionian.svg or Greek Sampi Pamphylian.svg. It was probably pronounced like "ts" or "tch" in the dialect of those cities. Over time, it was changed from Ͳ to Greek uncial Sampi.svg or Greek uncial Sampi 02.svg and at last to Sampi.svg.

Images for kids

  • KanishkaCoin3

    Coin of king Kanishka, with the inscription ÞΑΟΝΑΝΟÞΑΟ ΚΑΝΗÞΚΙ ΚΟÞΑΝΟ ("King of Kings, Kanishka the Kushan"), using Bactrian "þ" for š.

  • Plom I de La Serreta (Cara B)

    Graeco-Iberian lead plaque from la Serreta (Alcoi), showing the Iberian form of sampi.


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