S

From Thesaurus Inscriptionum Raeticarum
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Character
Customary name: sigma
Represents: s

Variants and attestation

Transliteration Sinistroverse Dextroverse
  Glyph Number Glyph Number
S S.png 32 Sd.png 72
S2 S2.png 2 S2d.png 9

Sigma with three bars is the standard variant in Raetic inscriptions. The four-bar variant occurs exclusively in a certain type of petrograph (see Raetic epigraphy) and the epigraphically deviant inscription PU-1. Like Alpha, Sigma sometimes occurs both sinistroverse and dextroverse in the same inscription (e.g. WE-3). The prevalent orientation, however, is with the upper angle opening against writing direction – i.e., turned from the point of view of the related alphabet traditions of Northern Italy –, which also connects the letter with Alpha.