# Definition:Greek Numerals/Attic System

## Definition

The Greek numerals from the Attic period (c. 500 BCE to c. 300 BCE) are similar to the Roman system:

 $\ds \textsf{I}:$  $\ds$one $\ds \Pi:$ penta$:$ $\ds$five $\ds \Delta:$ deka$:$ $\ds$ten $\ds \Eta:$ hekaton$:$ $\ds$one hundred $\ds \Xi:$ chilioi$:$ $\ds$one thousand $\ds \Mu:$ myriad$:$ $\ds$ten thousand

$\Pi$ was later written in a different form, with a shorter right leg, and from there it appears to have evolved into $\Gamma$.

Numbers were combined in a similar way to Roman numbers, but with additive forms only.

For example, $32718$ would have been written $\Mu \Mu \Mu \Xi \Xi \Eta \Eta \Eta \Eta \Eta \Eta \Eta \Delta \Pi \textsf {III}$.

Later evolutions introduced symbols for $50$, $500$ and $5000$, consisting of a tiny version of the appropriate power of $10$ nestled under the right hand (short) branch of the short-leg version of $\Pi$.

Such characters are difficult to render neatly, and as they are of limited importance, this has not been attempted on $\mathsf{Pr} \infty \mathsf{fWiki}$.