Therianthropy

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Therianthropy
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'''Theta-Delta''' is the most widely used symbol in representing Therianthropy. It is featured in the favicon of this wiki. The symbol consists of two Greek letters layered on top of each other: the Delta and the Theta characters. Both characters are typically depicted in the same color against a contrasting single color background, and may be styled further by intertwining the letters.
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'''Theta-Delta''' is the most widely used symbol in representing Therianthropy. The symbol consists of two Greek letters layered on top of each other: the Delta and the Theta characters. Both characters are typically depicted in the same color against a contrasting single color background, and may be styled further by intertwining the letters.
   
 
[[File:Theta-delta.svg|thumb|alt=The Theta Delta|The Theta Delta]]
 
[[File:Theta-delta.svg|thumb|alt=The Theta Delta|The Theta Delta]]
   
==History as a Therian Symbol==
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==Were/Therian Symbol History==
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There have been a few attempts to create a symbol for Therians. On August 17, 1999, BleuLynx announced a Weresymbol contest through AHWW. <ref>https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en#!searchin/alt.horror.werewolves/weresymbol|sort:relevance/alt.horror.werewolves/F14KE9Ep4Zg/HVCQrrvRHFkJ</ref> In November of 1999, Kamatu announced voting for an International Weresymbol and links to a now defunct website known as ''The Changing Times''. Unfortunately, the page with the symbols was not archived, so we are unable to see the designs. <ref>AHWW, November 5, 1999. https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en#!searchin/alt.horror.werewolves/therianthrope|sort:date/alt.horror.werewolves/Hogb5DAPLDA/Lx15fCNgKC4J</ref> <ref>The Changing Times, January 6, 2000. (archived page) https://web.archive.org/web/20000106232627/http://www.thechangingtimes.com:80/</ref>
Theta Delta was invented in 2003 in an early version of [[The Werelist]] forums. In one of the threads the topic of creating a representational symbol was raised. The intent was to make a universal Therian symbol for the entire community, and after considering various ideas, the Theta Delta was selected. The symbol was seen as appropriate due to a number of reasons, including logo simplicity and appropriate symbolism. Theta, being a T, represented the word "Therian" and Delta represented change, as in a [[Therianthropic Shifts|shift]]. {{fact}}.
 
   
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The Theta-Delta was created in 2003 on an early version of [[Werelist|The Werelist]] forums. The intent was to make a universal Therian symbol for the entire community, and after considering various ideas, the Theta-Delta was selected. <blockquote>It was a joint effort between the WereList and then popular Awereness forums (aka TO Forums). There was another user on the TO forums that was a fellow artist, I *think* his name was Crinos but I can't recall if I'm just mixing up WWtA stuff with this guy. Anyway, he and I put the logo together. There was a lot of people involved in giving suggestions though, so it wasn't just us. I just recall our contributions better than what others suggested. I suggested a mix of triangle, which stood for change, and a circle which stood for equals. The reason we didn't want pawprints and stuff is that is very alienating for non-canine/feline/blah blah therians. But two non-species specific symbols would work out better.<br>
Afterwards a Werelist member made a web page detailing the Theta Delta logo, distributing image files to be customized and used freely. Unfortunately the original forum thread disappeared in a server crash a few months later and nearly all the web pages explaining the theta-delta symbol were lost, having not been archived.
 
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Crinos was the one that put the circle in the triangle. And then I believe that Coyote Osborne was the one that suggested we make it an official greek "theta-delta" so that at least the symbology was somewhat "normal" (Hey, it's two greek letters) and because Therianthropy's root word of origin (therios) is greek AND started with the Theta. <br>
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It all came together so well, and it was really the first time the majority of the werecommunity ever agreed on anything (There was a lot of animosity towards other sites back in those days). So it was pretty well received and still used to this day." </blockquote><blockquote>-Jakkal <ref>http://www.werelist.net/archive/index.php/t-32006.html</ref></blockquote>
   
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The symbol was seen as appropriate due to a number of reasons, including logo simplicity and appropriate symbolism. Theta, being a T, represented the word "Therian" and Delta represented change, as in a [[Therianthropic Shifts|shift]]. {{fact}}. Unfortunately the original forum thread disappeared in a server crash a few months later and nearly all the web pages explaining the theta-delta symbol were lost, having not been archived. We do know that a Werelist member made a web page detailing the Theta Delta logo, distributing image files to be customized and used freely.
Many Therians adapt the basic design into a unique charm with personal significance to them. One of its original uses was to be optionally worn, as an identifying symbol, so that other Therians would recognize the wearer as another Therian, and not feel awkward about starting a conversation about Therianthropy with the wearer.
 
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One of its original uses was to be optionally worn, as an identifying symbol, so that other Therians would recognize the wearer as another Therian, and not feel awkward about starting a conversation about Therianthropy.
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== Adaptations ==
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Today, we see many adaptations of the basic design across the internet. The symbol is often turned into unique charms with personal significance to the person wearing it.
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[[File:UnifiedThetaDelta by Slava.png|thumb|153x153px]]
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=== Unified Theta-Delta ===
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This version of the symbol was created by [[Slavasesh]] between 2015-2016.
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"The green symbolizes beings of the land, blue those of water, and white those of flight, or in the air. The black symbolizes the unknown, AKA the reason we feel the way we do."
   
 
==Historical Symbolism & Meanings==
 
==Historical Symbolism & Meanings==
 
'''Delta''' (uppercase '''Δ''', lowercase '''δ'''; Greek: Δέλτα [ðelta: ''Dhelta'']) is the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 4. Delta was derived from the Phoenician letter Dalet, and in the Ancient Greek language it represented a voiced dental plosive /d̪/. The upper-case letter Δ often denotes difference and can symbolize a change.
 
'''Delta''' (uppercase '''Δ''', lowercase '''δ'''; Greek: Δέλτα [ðelta: ''Dhelta'']) is the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 4. Delta was derived from the Phoenician letter Dalet, and in the Ancient Greek language it represented a voiced dental plosive /d̪/. The upper-case letter Δ often denotes difference and can symbolize a change.
   
'''Theta''' (uppercase '''Θ''', lowercase '''θ''' or '''ϑ'''; Greek: Θήτα [''Theta'']) is the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet, derived from the Phoenician letter Teth. In has a value of 9 in the Greek numeric system.[[Category:Therian symbols]]
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'''Theta''' (uppercase '''Θ''', lowercase '''θ''' or '''ϑ'''; Greek: Θήτα [''Theta'']) is the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet, derived from the Phoenician letter Teth. In has a value of 9 in the Greek numeric system.
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== References ==
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"Theta-Delta Symbol" Werelist Archive, 2008. http://www.werelist.net/archive/index.php/t-15250.html
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<references />[[Category:Therian symbols]]

Revision as of 10:00, 29 October 2019

Theta-Delta is the most widely used symbol in representing Therianthropy. The symbol consists of two Greek letters layered on top of each other: the Delta and the Theta characters. Both characters are typically depicted in the same color against a contrasting single color background, and may be styled further by intertwining the letters.

The Theta Delta

The Theta Delta

Were/Therian Symbol History

There have been a few attempts to create a symbol for Therians. On August 17, 1999, BleuLynx announced a Weresymbol contest through AHWW. [1] In November of 1999, Kamatu announced voting for an International Weresymbol and links to a now defunct website known as The Changing Times. Unfortunately, the page with the symbols was not archived, so we are unable to see the designs. [2] [3]

The Theta-Delta was created in 2003 on an early version of The Werelist forums. The intent was to make a universal Therian symbol for the entire community, and after considering various ideas, the Theta-Delta was selected.

It was a joint effort between the WereList and then popular Awereness forums (aka TO Forums). There was another user on the TO forums that was a fellow artist, I *think* his name was Crinos but I can't recall if I'm just mixing up WWtA stuff with this guy. Anyway, he and I put the logo together. There was a lot of people involved in giving suggestions though, so it wasn't just us. I just recall our contributions better than what others suggested. I suggested a mix of triangle, which stood for change, and a circle which stood for equals. The reason we didn't want pawprints and stuff is that is very alienating for non-canine/feline/blah blah therians. But two non-species specific symbols would work out better.


Crinos was the one that put the circle in the triangle. And then I believe that Coyote Osborne was the one that suggested we make it an official greek "theta-delta" so that at least the symbology was somewhat "normal" (Hey, it's two greek letters) and because Therianthropy's root word of origin (therios) is greek AND started with the Theta. 

It all came together so well, and it was really the first time the majority of the werecommunity ever agreed on anything (There was a lot of animosity towards other sites back in those days). So it was pretty well received and still used to this day."

-Jakkal [4]

The symbol was seen as appropriate due to a number of reasons, including logo simplicity and appropriate symbolism. Theta, being a T, represented the word "Therian" and Delta represented change, as in a shift. (citation needed). Unfortunately the original forum thread disappeared in a server crash a few months later and nearly all the web pages explaining the theta-delta symbol were lost, having not been archived. We do know that a Werelist member made a web page detailing the Theta Delta logo, distributing image files to be customized and used freely.

One of its original uses was to be optionally worn, as an identifying symbol, so that other Therians would recognize the wearer as another Therian, and not feel awkward about starting a conversation about Therianthropy.

Adaptations

Today, we see many adaptations of the basic design across the internet. The symbol is often turned into unique charms with personal significance to the person wearing it.

UnifiedThetaDelta by Slava

Unified Theta-Delta

This version of the symbol was created by Slavasesh between 2015-2016.

"The green symbolizes beings of the land, blue those of water, and white those of flight, or in the air. The black symbolizes the unknown, AKA the reason we feel the way we do."

Historical Symbolism & Meanings

Delta (uppercase Δ, lowercase δ; Greek: Δέλτα [ðelta: Dhelta]) is the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 4. Delta was derived from the Phoenician letter Dalet, and in the Ancient Greek language it represented a voiced dental plosive /d̪/. The upper-case letter Δ often denotes difference and can symbolize a change.

Theta (uppercase Θ, lowercase θ or ϑ; Greek: Θήτα [Theta]) is the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet, derived from the Phoenician letter Teth. In has a value of 9 in the Greek numeric system.

References

"Theta-Delta Symbol" Werelist Archive, 2008. http://www.werelist.net/archive/index.php/t-15250.html