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I removed the following text, due to its being innacurate or obscure, and for its sources not being cited:
"The Phoenician letter gave rise to the GreekXi (Ξ)."
Samekh may have originated lower case sigma σ, by a horizontal flip of ס, not Xi (or, more correctly, Khi), which, in turn, is not written "Ξ" (ksi), but Χ (lower case χ). Now, Σ is probably for s(h)in ש, or arabic س.
I think you missunderstood something there. Ξ comes from Phoenician Samekh. The X of Latin is its PHONETIC equivalent. The Latin X comes from the old Western Greek alphabet, where it had the phonetic value [ks], but Eastern Greek (standard Greek) uses X for [kh]. The letter X is a Greek creation from Kappa and it is nowhere found in Semitic abjads. So everything is allright about Ξ originating from Samekh. Einstein92 (talk) 17:23, 19 July 2011 (UTC)[reply]
What's the story on these two names? Is the difference linguistic or temporal? 12:27, 16 June 2007 (UTC)
Perhaps I misunderstand you, but Semkat/Semkath is the name of the related Syriac letter, whereas Samekh is the Hebrew 'version'. They are each descendants, so to speak, of the Aramaic alphabet. See the article for more clarification: Aramaic Alphabet. GeoffericT•C✡ 02:06, 4 April 2015 (UTC)[reply]
