the male and female symbols originated in 1751.
the male and female symbols originated in 1751.
where did the male and female symbols originate?
1751
Na
Na
a common symbol used to represent the female sex is ♀ (unicode: u+2640 alt codes: alt+12), a circle with a small cross underneath. according to schott, the most established view is that the male and female symbols "are derived from contractions in greek script of the greek names of these planets, namely thouros (mars) and phosphoros (venus). these derivations have been traced by renkama who illustrated how greek letters can be transformed into the graphic male and female symbols still recognised today." thouros was abbreviated by θρ, and phosphoros by φ, both in the handwriting of alchemists so somewhat different from the greek symbols we know. these abbreviations were contracted into the modern symbols.
female