5 in Greek Attic
× 5
The acrophonic sign for five.
ANCIENT · ACROPHONIC · GROUPS OF 5
Greek Attic
Number signs based on the initial letters of Greek number names.
Convert numbers- Place
- Attica, ancient Greece
- Period / variant
- Classical inscriptions
EXAMPLES
42 · Acrophonic · groups of 5
Four tens and two ones.
Worked example
Write 42 in Greek Attic
Write the larger values first, from left to right. Each sign carries its own value; add the groups.
- × 10× 10× 10× 10
Write 4 signs worth 10 each: 4 × 10 = 40.
- × 1× 1
Write 2 signs worth 1 each: 2 × 1 = 2.
Check
4 × 10 + 2 × 1 = 42
Sources and notation notes
Unicode 17 — Numerals · Greek acrophonic encoding proposal and inscription references
Meet the symbols
Each tile shows a sign and what it means. A sign can stand for a whole amount, such as 10 or 100.
- 1
- 5
- 10
- 50
- 100
- 500
- 1,000
- 5,000
- 10,000
- 50,000
How the symbols fit together
Each sign has a fixed value. Count repeated signs and add them, starting with the largest.
- The basic signs mean 1, 5, 10, 100, 1,000, and 10,000. Special combined signs mean 50, 500, 5,000, and 50,000.
- For 42, count four ten signs: 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 = 40.
- Count two one signs: 1 + 1 = 2.
- Add 40 + 2 = 42. A combined five-hundred sign is worth 500 by itself. These signs carry their own values; empty amounts need no zero placeholder.
42 in Greek Attic
× 10× 10× 10× 10× 1× 1
Four tens and two ones.
500 in Greek Attic
× 500
A compound five-hundred sign.
This renders abstract integer quantities, not the specialized signs for currency, weight, or fractions also found in inscriptions. There is no zero sign.
History
The Attic acrophonic system appears in ancient inscriptions, including financial records. Several of its signs derive from initial letters of Greek number words. Regional acrophonic systems also existed; the shapes and values shown here belong to the Attic numerical repertoire.
How to read it
Each sign has a fixed value. Count repeated signs and add them, starting with the largest.
- The basic signs mean 1, 5, 10, 100, 1,000, and 10,000. Special combined signs mean 50, 500, 5,000, and 50,000.
- For 42, count four ten signs: 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 = 40.
- Count two one signs: 1 + 1 = 2.
- Add 40 + 2 = 42. A combined five-hundred sign is worth 500 by itself. These signs carry their own values; empty amounts need no zero placeholder.
Limits
This renders abstract integer quantities, not the specialized signs for currency, weight, or fractions also found in inscriptions. There is no zero sign.
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