Greek numerals

Greek numerals aresystemrepresenting numbers using letters ofGreek alphabet.

The earliest systemnumeralsGreek was acrophonic, operating much like Roman numerals withfollowing scheme: Ι = 1, Π = 5, Δ = 10, Η = 100, Χ = 1000,Μ = 10000.

Starting in4th century BC,acrophonic system was replaced withquasi-decimal alphabetic system, sometimes calledIonic numeral system. Each unit (1, 2, ..., 9) was assignedseparate letter, each tens (10, 20, ..., 90)separate letter,each hundreds (100, 200, ..., 900)separate letter. This requires 27 letters, so24-letter Greek alphabet was extended by using three obsolete letters: digamma (ϝ)6, qoppa (ϟ)90,sampi (ϡ)900. An acute sign (´)useddistinguish numerals from letters.

The alphabetic system operates onadditive principlewhichnumeric values oflettersadded togetherformtotal. For example, 241represented as σ´μ´α´ (200 + 40 + 1).

Letter Value

Letter Value Letter Value
α´ 1

ι´ 10 ρ´ 100
β´ 2

κ´ 20 σ´ 200
γ´ 3

λ´ 30 τ´ 300
δ´ 4

μ´ 40 υ´ 400
ε´ 5

ν´ 50 φ´ 500
ς´ 6

ξ´ 60 χ´ 600
ζ´ 7

ο´ 70 ψ´ 700
η´ 8

π´ 80 ω´ 800
θ´ 9

ϙ´ 90 ϡ´ 900

Letter	Value	Letter	Value	Letter	Value
α´	1	ι´	10	ρ´	100
β´	2	κ´	20	σ´	200
γ´	3	λ´	30	τ´	300
δ´	4	μ´	40	υ´	400
ε´	5	ν´	50	φ´	500
ς´	6	ξ´	60	χ´	600
ζ´	7	ο´	70	ψ´	700
η´	8	π´	80	ω´	800
θ´	9	ϙ´	90	ϡ´	900