Triskelion

thumb|Neolithic triple-spiral symbol

A triskelion, or triskeles, is an ancient motif consisting either of a triple spiral exhibiting rotational symmetry or of other patterns in triplicate that emanate from a common center. The spiral design can be based on interlocking Archimedean spirals, or represent three bent human limbs. It occurs in artefacts of the European Neolithic and Bronze Ages with continuation into the Iron Age, especially in the context of the La Tène culture and of related Celtic traditions. The actual triskeles symbol of three human legs is found especially in Greek antiquity, beginning in archaic pottery and continued in coinage of Classical Greece.

In the Hellenistic period, the symbol became associated with the island of Sicily, appearing on coins minted under Dionysius I of Syracuse beginning in BCE. It later appears in heraldry, and, other than in the flag of Sicily, came into use in the arms and flags of the Isle of Man (known in the Manx language as ).

Greek () means from (), and (), . While the Greek adjective ( of a table) is ancient, use of the term for the symbol is modern, introduced in 1835 by Honoré Théodoric d'Albert de Luynes as French , and adopted in the spelling triskeles following Otto Olshausen (1886). The form triskelion (as it were Greek ) is a diminutive which entered English usage in numismatics in the late-19th century. The form consisting of three human legs (as opposed to the triple spiral) has also been called a "triquetra of legs", also triskelos or triskel.

Use in European antiquity

Neolithic to Iron Age

thumb|5,000 year-old triskelion on an [[orthostat at Newgrange]]

The triple spiral symbol, or three-spiral volute, appears in many early cultures: the first appeared in Malta (4400–3600 BCE); the second in the astronomical calendar of the megalithic tomb of Newgrange in Ireland built around 3200 BCE; as well as on Mycenaean vessels. The Neolithic-era symbol of three conjoined spirals may have had triple significance similar to the imagery that lies behind the triskelion. It is carved into the rock of a stone lozenge near the main entrance of the prehistoric Newgrange monument in what is now County Meath, Ireland.

There is also an example of a triskele on a stone fragment discovered in Gloucestershire, England, that, as of 2023, is held by the British Museum and thought to date from between the Neolithic period and the Bronze Age.

The triskelion was a motif in the art of the Iron Age Celtic La Tène culture. It is found on coinage in Lycia and on staters of Pamphylia (at Aspendos in 370–333 BCE) and Pisidia. The meaning of the Greek triskeles is not recorded directly. The Duke of Luynes, in his 1835 study, noted the co-occurrence of the symbol with the eagle, the cockerel, the head of Medusa, Perseus, three crescent moons, three ears of corn, and three grains of corn. From this, he reconstructed a feminine divine triad that he identified with the triple goddess Hecate.

The triskeles was adopted as emblem by the rulers of Syracuse. It is possible that this usage is related with the Greek name of the island of Sicily, () . The Sicilian triskeles is shown with the head of Medusa at the center. The ancient symbol has been re-introduced in modern flags of Sicily since 1848. The oldest find of a triskeles in Sicily is a vase dated to the late-7th century BCE of which researchers speculated a Minoan-Mycenaean origin (and for which no proof has been given).

Roman period and Late Antiquity

Late examples of the triple spiral symbols are found in Iron Age Europe, carved in rock in Castro Culture settlements in Galicia, Asturias, and Northern Portugal. The symbol took on new meaning to Irish Celtic Christians before the 5th century CE as a symbol of the Trinity.

File:2009-03-22 03-29 Sizilien 683 Agrigent, Parco Valle dei Templi Agrigento, Museo Archaeologico.jpg|Triskelion of Sicily on vase of the late 7th century BCE

File:Ancient greek beaked jug decorated with triple spirals.jpg|Late Helladic (14th century BCE) beaked jug decorated with triple spirals

File:6257 - Archaeological Museum, Athens - Gold cup from Mycenae - Photo by Giovanni Dall'Orto, Nov 10 2009.jpg|Gold cup from Mycenae decorated with triskelions

File:Trisquel da Aira Vella, Santo Estevo de Allariz, Allariz.jpg|Iron Age Castro culture triskele, reused in a barn, Airavella, Allariz, Galicia, Spain

File:Torque de Santa Tegra 1.JPG|Triskelion and spirals on a Galician torc terminal

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Medieval use

The triple spiral design is found as a decorative element in Gothic architecture. The three legs (triskeles) symbol is rarely found as a charge in late medieval heraldry, notably as the arms of the King of Mann (Armorial Wijnbergen, ), and as canting arms in the city seal of the Bavarian city of Füssen (dated 1317).

File:Triskel-triskele-triquetre-triscel VAN DEN HENDE ALAIN CC-BY-SA-40 0718 PDP BG 007.jpg|Triskèle Saint-Marcellin (in Isère / France)

File:Triskel_et_Biskel_-_Saint_Antoine_l_Abbaye_-_Alain_Van_den_Hende_17071627_Licence_CC40.jpg|On the front of Abbatial church of Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye with 2 groups of 2 triskelions and 1 biskel (in Isère / France)

File:Triskele karja church.jpg|Mural depicting a triskelion on the ceiling of Karja church in Saaremaa, Estonia

File:TremayneArms.PNG|Tremayne family triskelion arms

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Modern usage

The town of Dukla in Poland has used three hunting bugles arranged in triskelion shape as its symbol since the 16th century.

The triskeles was included in the design of the Army Gold Medal awarded to British Army majors and above who had taken a key part in the Battle of Maida (1806). An early flag of Sicily, proposed in 1848, included the Sicilian triskeles or "Trinacria symbol". Later versions of Sicilian flags have retained the emblem, including the one officially adopted in 2000. The flag of the Isle of Man (1932) shows a heraldic design of a triskeles of three armoured legs.

The flag and coat of arms of the Bavarian town of Füssen, Germany, contain a triskele, as does the flag of the Russian autonomous region of Ust-Orda Buryat Okrug.

In the Republic of Ireland the triskelion is displayed in hospitals and care centres to indicate that a patient is dying or has died. It is based on the historical use of the triskele in Celtic Ireland and it is used as an alternative to religious imagery. In this context, the three spirals represent the cycle of birth, life and death.

Other uses of triskelion-like emblems include the logo for the Trisquel Linux distribution and the seal of the United States Department of Transportation.

In the 1960s television programme Star Trek: The Original Series, members of the crew are forced to fight to the death on a triskelion playing surface in the episode "The Gamesters of Triskelion".

A specific version of the triskele comprising three sevens has been adopted by neo-Nazis. In South Africa the Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging (AWB), an Afrikaner nationalist, neo-Nazi organisation and political party (founded 1973), uses it as its symbol in place of a swastika. The Blood & Honour neo-Nazi group also uses it. The 27th SS Volunteer Division Langemarck's shoulder strap cipher was a triskele (though not involving sevens). Use of the triskele can be a prosecutable offence under German law, depending on the context in which it is used. Its BDSM usage derives from the Ring of O in the book Story of O. The BDSM Emblem Project claims copyright over one particular specified form of the triskelion symbol; other variants of the triskelion are free from such copyright claims.

POL Dukla COA.svg|Coat of arms of Dukla

File:Flag of the Isle of Mann.svg|Flag of the Isle of Man

File:Flag of Sicily.svg|Flag of Sicily, with the triskeles-and-Gorgoneion symbol

File:Flag of Sărata-Galbenă.gif|Flag of Sărata-Galbenă

File:Flag of Ust-Orda Buryat Autonomous Okrug.svg|Flag of Ust-Orda Buryat Okrug

File:Füssen manhole cover.jpg|Füssen manhole cover showing coat of arms

File:Flag of Ingushetia.svg|Flag of Ingushetia

File:27. SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division „Langemarck“ (1. flämische).svg|Emblem of the 27th SS Volunteer Division Langemarck

File:Banniel stollad broadel breizh.svg|flag of the Breton National Party

File:Flag of the Afrikaner-Weerstandsbeweging.svg|Flag of Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging

File:Logo-Trisquel.svg|Logo of Trisquel GNU/Linux

File:End-of-Life symbol Ireland.jpg|The triskelion is used as an end-of-life symbol in the Irish healthcare system.

File:United States Department of Transportation seal.svg|Seal of the US Department of Transportation

File:Flag of the Conceyu Nacionalista Astur.svg|Flag of the Asturian Nationalist Council

File:Coat of arms of Opočno (okres Louny).svg|Coat of arms of Opočno (Louny District)

File:BDSM-rights-flag-Tanos.svg|The BDSM rights flag with triskelion-type emblem (not copyrighted)

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Occurrence in nature

The boric acid and triethylborane molecules are triskelion-shaped as seen in the images. The molecular point group of triskelion-shaped molecules is C<sub>3h</sub>. The endocytic protein, clathrin, is triskelion-shaped, as well as the Ediacaran organism Tribrachidium.

Triethylborane.svg|A molecule of triethylborane

Boric-acid-2D.svg|A molecule of boric acid

Tribrachidium_heraldicum_トリブラキディウム_ヘラルディキウム_24mm.jpg|The Ediacaran organism Tribrachidium

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Use in European antiquity

Neolithic to Iron Age

Roman period and Late Antiquity

Medieval use

Modern usage

Occurrence in nature

See also

References

External links