M. Vitruvii Pollonis de architectura libri decem ad Caesarem Augustum omnibus omnium editionibus longe emendatiores collatis veteribus exemplis

From these things which Marcus Vitruvius has in the tenth book, and from the monuments of the ancient Greek authors whom he himself cites, we have taken care to collect the meanings of several characters (as much as was permitted) and to set them down here separately for your use. I would like you to take this diligence of ours in good part: certainly a greater one was not given to be presented at present.

I would like you to know the character of each aforementioned integer, whether a cubit, a foot, a digit, an inch, or an aperture.

S. signifies a half.
:- a fourth part, not of the aforementioned integer, but of the half.
.. an eighth part, not of the aforementioned integer, but of the half.
ū. a duella a weight/measure unit, which is the third part of the aforementioned integer.
9. a sicilicum a weight unit, which is the fourth part of the aforementioned integer.
z. a drachma, which is the eighth part of the aforementioned integer.
F. the twelfth part of the aforementioned integer.
Γ. the sixteenth part of the aforementioned integer.

Because, however, some of the aforementioned characters and others also are found described and corrupted in different ways in diverse copies, I do not think that certain faith should be applied to each one until you encounter the most corrected example possible.

The dots, however, which are found in the same 10th book, whether in a circular ⁑ or quadrangular ⌗ form, seem to have been made not for the sake of any certain signification, but only for the distinction of clauses. Unless perhaps someone might contend that they signify the minutiae of each one's integer: if they were kept preserved for us uncorrupted as they were handed down.