Glossary entry
Theta-delta
The emblem of therianthropy: the Greek letters theta and delta laid one over the other. It has been in use since 2003.
In depth
The theta-delta was drawn up in 2003 by members of an online therian forum who wanted a mark that was simple, dignified, and unlikely to be mistaken for anything else. It sets a theta, the first letter of the Greek word therion, wild animal, together with a delta, the letter long used in the sciences as shorthand for change. Read together they say, more or less, the animal and the shift.
It is drawn in several ways: the oval theta laid over the triangle of the delta, set inside it, or interlaced with it. There is no single authorized form and no body to authorize one. People wear it as a small pendant or ring, stitch it onto a bag, or add it to a signature. Its plainness is its purpose. Those who know it will recognize it, and to anyone else it is two Greek letters.
In practice
- A person wears a small theta-delta pendant every day as a quiet reminder to themselves, and has only once been asked about it.
- A community essay collection prints the symbol on its title page in place of any picture of an animal, so that no one theriotype stands for all.
Common questions
Do I have to use the symbol to be a therian?
No. It is a shared emblem, not a badge of membership. Many therians never use it.
Is there a symbol for otherkin as well?
Yes. Otherkin commonly use a seven-pointed star drawn in a single line, also called a heptagram.
Related terms
Read further. Both emblems are drawn and described on the page of symbols and emblems.