Digamma
|
|
| Greek alphabet | |
|---|---|
| Α α Alpha | Β β Beta |
| Γ γ Gamma | Δ δ Delta |
| Ε ε Epsilon | Ζ ζ Zeta |
| Η η Eta | Θ θ Theta |
| Ι ι Iota | Κ κ Kappa |
| Λ λ Lambda | Μ μ Mu |
| Ν ν Nu | Ξ ξ Xi |
| Ο ο Omicron | Π π Pi |
| Ρ ρ Rho | Σ σ Sigma |
| Τ τ Tau | Υ υ Upsilon |
| Φ φ Phi | Χ χ Chi |
| Ψ ψ Psi | Ω ω Omega |
| obsolete letters | |
| [[Digamma|Template:Polytonic Digamma]] | [[San (letter)|Template:Polytonic San]] |
| [[Qoppa|Template:Polytonic Qoppa]] | [[Sampi|Template:Polytonic Sampi]] |
Digamma, or Wau, (upper case Template:Polytonic, lower case Template:Polytonic) is an obsolete letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 6. When used as a numeral, digamma is written using the stigma (Template:Polytonic, Template:Polytonic), a ligature of sigma and tau, or as the sequence στ or ΣΤ. When used as a letter, it has the shape of an F (hence its name, "double gamma") and the value of a /w/. Writing of digamma is preserved in many dialectal Greek inscriptions. In Ionic it had probably disappeared before Homer's epics were written down (7th century BC), but the former presence of a digamma can be detected in many cases because its omission left the meter defective. Famously, the homeric name of Troy, Ilion, shows traces of an initial digamma, *Wilion, corresponding to the Hittite name of the city, Wilusa. Also, the word for wine, Template:Polytonic, was used in the meter where a word starting with a consonant should have been placed. Further evidence coupled with cognate-analysis shows that Template:Polytonic should be Template:Polytonic.
Letters that arose from Digamma include the Roman F. Digamma, like Y, derives from the Semitic letter waw, which also has the numerical value 6.ca:Digamma de:Digamma es:Digamma fr:Digamma la:Digamma ja:Ϝ sv:Digamma zh:Digamma