View source for Paragraphos

{{short description|Ancient Greek paragraph markers}}
[[File:Paragraphos.png|thumb|Various {{Lang|grc-latn|paragraphoi}}.]]
A '''paragraphos''' ({{langx|grc|{{linktext|παράγραφος}}}}, {{Lang|grc-latn|parágraphos}}, from {{Lang|grc|para-}}, 'beside', and {{Lang|grc-latn|graphein}}, 'to write') was a mark in [[ancient Greek|ancient]] [[Greek punctuation]], marking a division in a text (as between speakers in a dialogue or drama) or drawing the reader's attention to another division mark, such as the two dot punctuation mark {{char|⁚}} (used as an [[obelism]]).

There are many variants of this symbol, sometimes supposed to have developed from Greek [[gamma]] ({{lang|grc|Γ}}), the first letter of the word {{Lang|grc-latn|graphos}}. It was usually placed at the beginning of a line and trailing a little way under or over the text.<ref name=chasejoy>{{cite web |author=Pearse, Roger |url=https://www.roger-pearse.com/weblog/2010/11/09/paragraphos-and-coronis-the-joy-of-the-chase/ |title=Paragraphos and Coronis—the joy of the chase |date=9 Nov 2010 |access-date=9 Oct 2014}}</ref>

It was referenced by [[Aristotle]], who was dismissive of its use.<ref name=moreon>{{cite web |author=Pearse, Roger |url=https://www.roger-pearse.com/weblog/2010/11/10/more-on-the-paragraphos-mark/ |title=More on the paragraphos mark |date=10 Nov 2010 |access-date=9 Oct 2014}}</ref>

[[Unicode]] encodes multiple versions:
*{{unichar|2e0f|Paragraphos}}
*{{unichar|2e10|Forked Paragraphos}}
*{{unichar|2e11|Reversed Forked Paragraphos}}
* {{unichar|205A|Two dot punctuation}}

==See also==
* [[Obelus]] and [[Obelism]], Greek marginal notes
* [[Coronis (textual symbol)|Coronis]], the Greek paragraph mark
* [[Pilcrow]] (¶), the English paragraph mark
* [[Section sign]] (§), the English section mark

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Writing]]
[[Category:Punctuation]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek punctuation]]

[[pl:Paragraf]]


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