Editing Tau (section)

== Symbolism ==
* In ancient times, tau was used as a symbol for [[life]] or [[resurrection]], whereas the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet, [[theta]], was considered the symbol of [[death]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}
* In Biblical times, the [[taw]] was put on men to distinguish those who lamented sin, although newer versions of the Bible have replaced the ancient term ''taw'' with ''mark'' (Ezekiel 9:4) or ''signature'' (Job 31:35). Its original sound value is a [[voiceless alveolar plosive]], IPA /t/{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}
* The symbolism of the [[cross]] was connected not only to the letter [[chi (letter)|chi]] but also to tau, the equivalent of the last letter in the [[Phoenician alphabet|Phoenician]] and Old Hebrew alphabets, and which was originally cruciform in shape; see [[Cross of Tau]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2024}}
* An essay written around 160 AD, attributed to [[Lucian]], a mock legal prosecution called ''[[The Consonants at Law - Sigma vs. Tau, in the Court of the Seven Vowels]]'', contains a reference to the cross attribution. [[Sigma (letter)|Sigma]] petitions the court to sentence Tau to death by crucifixion, saying:
*: ''Men weep, and bewail their lot, and curse Cadmus with many curses for introducing ''Tau'' into the family of letters; they say it was his body that tyrants took for a model, his shape that they imitated, when they set up structures on which men are crucified. ''Stauros'' (cross) the vile engine is called, and it derives its vile name from him. Now, with all these crimes upon him, does he not deserve death, nay, many deaths? For my part I know none bad enough but that supplied by his own shape — that shape which he gave to the [[gibbet]] named ''stauros'' after him by men''
* [[Tau Cross|Tau]] is usually considered as the symbol of [[Franciscan]] orders due to [[Saint Francis of Assisi|St. Francis']] love for it, symbol of the redemption and of the [[Cross]]. Almost all Franciscan churches have painted a tau with two crossing arms, both with [[stigmata]], the one of Jesus and the other of Francis; members of the [[Secular Franciscan Order]] usually wear a wooden τ in a string with three knots around the neck
* The title and symbol of "Tau" is used by [[neo-Gnostic]] bishops as it has some symbolism in many of the modern branches of Gnosticism.