Stigma

Stigma


(στίγμα). Literally a mark made by puncturing (from στίζω). In general a brand or mark pricked or stamped upon an object, as on the forehead of a slave ( Petron.103). For theft the letter F (fur) was the usual brand, but sometimes the whole word was branded on, or even a sentence descriptive of the offence ( Petron. l. c.). The name was also given to a mark pricked into the arm of conscripts for the army (Veget. Mil.i. 8; ii. 5) after they had been received and passed, the object being identification. The same thing was done to labourers employed in the State's factories (Imp. Zeno, Cod. xlii. 10).