I’ve been looking at different versions of my Greek Bibles and in the same verse, different Bibles will either write Σωτήρ or σωτήρ. And I’m wondering which of these is correct.
I’m mainly asking this because I am designing a tattoo that is comprised of the intersection of σωτήρ and τετέλεσται, with τετέλεσται going vertical. I was going to leave it as a lower case σ because I feel that the upper case looks out of place with the rest of the design being lower, but if Σ is proper I would stick with using that.
Also, can τετέλεσται be printed vertically and still be read properly?
There is no correct answer. The small case letters are a latter development, but they have become standard. Capitalizing the first letter of certain words is really a type of concession to English usage which some (a minority, I think) editors prefer. I would not capitalize the sigma. You certainly do not have to.
Sure, I think it making a cross of the two words would look cool and would be theologically indicated.
If the problem is having the two words fit, why not go for full capitals? It’s even more archaic/lapidary, and besides as Markos said the miniscule is a latter development.