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Episemon
in Greek numerals, is a sign standing for a numeral. Thus,
episemon bau generally called Fau, Episemon, stands for
6, and iota-episemon for 16. There are two other symbols—
viz. koppa for 90, and sampi [san-pi] for 900. The
reason is this: The Greek letters were used for numerals, and were
ranged in three columns of nine figures each; but 24 letters will not
divide by 9, so the 3 symbols, episemon, koppa, and sampi were added to
make up 3 × 9. Col. 1, from 1 to 20; col. 2, from 20 to 100; col. 3,
from 100 to 1,000.
Bau and Fau are identical, the B or F being the dijamma. Thus
oinos (wine) was pronounced Foinos, called in Latin
Vinum, and öon (an egg) was pronounced Ofon, in Latin
Ovum.
A dash under a letter multiplied it a hundredfold. Thus, = 1,
but =000. For intermediate figures between full tens a mark was made
above the unit. Thus (iota = 10; but = 10 + 1 = 11, = 10 + 2
= 12; = 10 + 3 = 13, and so on.
Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894 More on Episemon from Infoplease:
- Episemon - Episemon in Greek numerals, is a sign standing for a numeral. Thus, episemon bau generally called ...
- Sampi - Sampi A Greek numeral. (See Episemon.) Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, ...
- Koppa - Koppa A Greek numeral = 90. (See Episemon.) Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham ...
- Numerals - Numerals All our numerals and ordinals up to a million (with one exception) are Anglo-Saxon. The ...
- Arabic Figures - Arabic Figures The figures 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. So called because they were introduced into Europe ...
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