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Triskele
The triskele (or triskelion) is an ancient symbol. The name comes from the Greek “Tri” and “Skelos” meaning three legs. The first known use of the symbol is believed to be from Malta, maybe c. 3600 BC. Again at Newgrange (pic below) in Ireland, c. 3200 BC near the end of the the Neolithic period (c. 4000-3000 BC).
Mycenaean gold cup; found in grave c. 1600-1500 BC
Today it is most associated as a Celtic symbol, as the Celts used it prolifically as intricate adornment on metal and stone work.
Although there are many interpretations as to what the symbol meant, no one can know for sure. The symbol was used before any written word and the oral tradition has long been lost. It may have been spiritual, representing deities or nature. It may have simply been a motif that was liked. We will never know. But we can celebrate the idea, the art, the motif that lasted thousands of years and is still used today.
Example of modern version
The world is rich in diversity of culture.
In the United States, there is a meeting of many cultures and the ones people came from can be forgotten over generations.
We strive to preserve Celtic heritage for American's of Celtic descent so they may be connected to the threads of their past, present, and future.
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Celtic Heritage Foundation
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Email: info@celtichf.org
Background triskele photo: inside Newgrange © O'Dea CC BY-SA 4.0