Therianthropy

Definition

• Therianthropy: A term for the experience of identifying as a non-human animal.
• Therianthrope: An individual who identifies involuntarily as a non-human creature.
• Not a choice, and theriotypes (animal identities) cannot be chosen.
• Some identify with extinct, fictional, or mythical animals.
• Polytherians: Individuals with more than one theriotype.

Etymology and Pre-modern History

• Originates from Greek words "thiro" (beast) and "anthropos" (human), meaning "animal person."
• Historically, described shapeshifting in mythology and folklore.
• Usage potentially dates back to the 16th century in criminal trials of werewolves.
• First known written use in 1901 by J.J.M De Groot.
• Used in 1915 to describe spiritual beliefs in animal transformation.
• Archaeologists use the term for animal-human figures in rock art.
• Oldest depiction: 42,000 BCE cave paintings in Sulawesi depicting human-animal figures.
• Figures include half-lion, half-man sculptures from Germany.

Modern History

• Online presence traced back to 1992 in alt.horror.werewolves.
• Term "therianthropy" was suggested as a replacement for "lycanthropy" in 1994.
• Community expanded with various online groups, some now archived.

Symbols

• Theta-Delta: Symbol representing therianthropic identities.

Age Range

• No specific age; awakening often occurs between 8-18 years old.
• Greymuzzles: Therians over 40 who have been awakened for a long time.

Subcategories

• Ambitherianthropy, Cladotherianthropy, Contherianthropy, Suntherianthropy, Vacillant Therianthropy, Psychological and Spiritual Therianthropy, Polytherianthropy.

Misconceptions

• Misconception 1: Must be born a therian - Incorrect, can happen involuntarily.
• Misconception 2: Therians and furries are the same - Incorrect, furries are an interest while therianthropy is an identity.
• Misconception 3: Therians are normal humans - Incorrect, they identify as non-human creatures.
• Misconception 4: Therians act like animals in public - Incorrect, most are private about their identity.
• Misconception 5: Therianthropy is only spiritual - Incorrect, it can also have psychological causes.

References

• Various references to historical uses, archaeological findings, and modern research articles.