Remove section regarding use of theta delta as criminal branding, this information was false.
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'''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.
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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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'''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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In classical Athens Theta was used as an abbreviation for the Greek θάνατος (thanatos, death), as it vaguely resembled a human skull. Theta was also used as a warning symbol of death just like the universal "skull and crossbones" symbol is used today. It still survives on as a symbol used by Athenians when voting for the death penalty.<ref name="Barry_1">{{cite book| Author=Barry, Kieren<br />| Last = Barry<br />| First = Kieren<br />| Title = The Greek Qabalah: Alphabetic Mysticism and Numerology in the Ancient World<br />| Publisher = [[Samuel Weiser]]<br />| page = p. 73<br />| Year = 1999<br />| ID=ISBN 1-57863-110-6<br />}}.</ref><br />A document from 1291 relates the idea that theta was also used to brand criminals as empty ciphers, and the branding rod was affixed to the crossbar spanning the circle.<ref>{{cite book<br />| last = Kaplan<br />| first = Robert<br />| title = The Nothing that Is: A Natural History of Zero<br />| publisher = [[Wikipedia:Oxford University Press]]<br />| date = 2000<br />| pages = p. 66<br />| isbn = 0-1951-4237-3<br />}}.</ref><br />Another esoteric/spiritual/occult group which uses the symbol today is the Church of Scientology. In Scientology the word "theta" is often used as an adjective to express or convey a sense of spirituality, or to describe an uplifting feeling. The word thetan is the Scientology term for someone’s spirit.
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==Non-Use of the Theta-Delta==
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Although being common Theta Delta is not used by some therians for various reasons. Some may not wish to use visual symbols to represent their Therianthropy. Some, including the Therian Temple <ref>http://www.youtube.com/profile_video_blog?sid=E93DD8E0425A11B0&id=10C83DCE991DE338</ref> protest the use of the symbol due to it's historical usage in branding criminals. Subsequently many have developed or selected their own symbols/sigils, including the ancient [[Wolfsangel]] (for Wolf Therians) and the [[Theriogram]] (for the Therian Temple).
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==References==<br /><references/>
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[[Category:Therian symbols]]