Therianthropy: Difference between revisions
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'''Therianthropy''' is derived from the noun ''therianthrope'', meaning ''part man and part beast'', derived in turn from the [[Greek (language)|Greek]] ''therion'' (Θηριον), meaning "wild animal" or "beast", and ''anthrōpos'' (ανθρωπος), meaning "man". Therianthropes have been a long-term feature of [[mythology]], appearing in ancient cave drawings <ref name=BrittanicaOnline>{{cite web|work=Encyclopedia Brittanica|title=Trois Freres|accessdate=2006-12-06|url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9073471/Trois-Freres}}</ref> and in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs {{fact}}. Therianthropy in mortals has been documented in inquisitions of the 16th century {{fact}}, specifically referring to [[lycanthropy]], the state of being a [[werewolf]]. Some [[Totemism|totemic]] belief systems state that not only do clan members enjoy the spiritual protection of an animal spirit, they share identity with that spirit as well {{fact}}. |
'''Therianthropy''' is derived from the noun ''therianthrope'', meaning ''part man and part beast'', derived in turn from the [[Greek (language)|Greek]] ''therion'' (Θηριον), meaning "wild animal" or "beast", and ''anthrōpos'' (ανθρωπος), meaning "man". Therianthropes have been a long-term feature of [[mythology]], appearing in ancient cave drawings <ref name=BrittanicaOnline>{{cite web|work=Encyclopedia Brittanica|title=Trois Freres|accessdate=2006-12-06|url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9073471/Trois-Freres}}</ref> and in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs {{fact}}. Therianthropy in mortals has been documented in inquisitions of the 16th century {{fact}}, specifically referring to [[lycanthropy]], the state of being a [[werewolf]]. Some [[Totemism|totemic]] belief systems state that not only do clan members enjoy the spiritual protection of an animal spirit, they share identity with that spirit as well {{fact}}. |
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Revision as of 02:32, 6 December 2006
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Therianthropy is derived from the noun therianthrope, meaning part man and part beast, derived in turn from the Greek therion (Θηριον), meaning "wild animal" or "beast", and anthrōpos (ανθρωπος), meaning "man". Therianthropes have been a long-term feature of mythology, appearing in ancient cave drawings [1] and in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs [citation needed]. Therianthropy in mortals has been documented in inquisitions of the 16th century [citation needed], specifically referring to lycanthropy, the state of being a werewolf. Some totemic belief systems state that not only do clan members enjoy the spiritual protection of an animal spirit, they share identity with that spirit as well [citation needed].
Therianthropy was used to describe spiritual belief in 1915 [[1]] and one source [[2]] raises the possibility the term may have been used in the 16th century in criminal trials of suspected werewolves. (These citations will be improved during December 2006.)
The term was used by members of the Usenet group alt.horror.werewolves (around 1992) when they discussed fictional shapeshifters. Some users began to publicly claim that they considered themselves to be partially non-human animal. A number were only joking, but enough people were serious about it, and claimed this was their personal understanding and experience of themselves, that it became the subject of ongoing discussion.[2] Initially such people called themselves lycanthropes, but as that word more accurately describes wolf-people, therianthropes was chosen as a more general term.
Historic examples
In folklore, mythology and anthropology, therianthropy can be used to describe a creature that displays both human and animal characteristics . The most commonly known form is lycanthropy (from the Greek words lycos ("wolf") and anthropos ("man")), the technical term for the transformation from man to animal form. Although the precise definition of lycanthropy specifically refers only to the change into wolf form (as with a werewolf), the term is often used to refer to shape changing to any non-human animal form.
Ethnologist Ivar Lissner theorized that cave paintings of beings combining human and non-human animal features were not representations of myths about physical shapeshifters, but were instead attempts to depict shamans in the process of acquiring the mental and spiritual attributes of various beasts.[3] Religious historian Mircea Eliade has observed that beliefs regarding animal identity and transformation into animals are widespread[4].
Therianthropy can also refer to characters that share man and animal traits at the same time, for example with the animal-headed human forms of gods in Egyptian mythology (such as Ra, Sobek and others) as well as creatures like centaurs and mermaids. A nearly endless number of types of therianthropy could thus be referred to by their own individual terms, though most of these would be neologisms. Other than lycanthropy, cynanthropy and ailuranthropy are the best known varieties.[5] Cynanthropy existed by at least 1901, when the term was applied to myths from China about humans turning into dogs, dogs becoming people, and sexual relations between humans and canines.[6]
Some therianthropes believe themselves to share identity with animals found only in fiction, such as Dragons, and have produced websites offering resources to others sharing that belief [7][8][9].
A small number [10] of psychiatric patients combine a belief that they are an animal with socially unacceptable and delusional behaviour[11]. This is discussed in the Clinical Lycanthropy article.
See also
References
- ^ "Trois Freres". Encyclopedia Brittanica. Retrieved 2006-12-06.
- ^ Cohen, D. (1996). Werewolves. New York: Penguin. p. 104. ISBN 0-525-65207-8.
- ^ Steiger, B. (1999). The Werewolf Book: The Encyclopedia of Shape-Shifting Beings. Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink. ISBN 1-57859-078-7.
- ^ Eliade, Mircea (1965). Rites and Symbols of Initiation: the mysteries of birth and rebirth. Harper & Row.
- ^ Greene, R. (2000). The Magic of Shapeshifting. York Beach, ME: Weiser. p. 229. ISBN 1-57863-171-8.
- ^ De Groot, J.J.M. (1901). The Religious System of China: Volume IV. Leiden: Brill. p. 184.
- ^ "Otherkin.net".
- ^ "Baxil's Draconity FAQ".
- ^ "Draconic.com".
- ^ Keck PE, Pope HG, Hudson JI, McElroy SL, Kulick AR. (1988) Lycanthropy: alive and well in the twentieth century. Psychological Medicine, 18(1), 113-20.
- ^ Garlipp, P (2004). "Lycanthropy--psychopathological and psychodynamical aspects". Acta Psychiatr Scand. 109 (1): 19–22.
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- OED (1933) Vol XI p 288
- Encyclopaedia Britannica (1886) Vol XX p 367 (C.P.Teile)
- Eliade, Mircea (1965). Rites and Symbols of Initiation: the mysteries of birth and rebirth. Harper & Row. Includes a specific account of Norse hunters who 'turned into wolves' during the course of an initiation and mentions other accounts.