triskelion

A triskelion, also spelled triskele, is a motif consisting of three elements radiating from a common center. The name derives from the Greek triskeleion or triskeles, from tri- “three” and skelos “leg,” though the form has many variations. In archaeology the term is often used for three-legged symbols as well as for three-armed spirals; some scholars distinguish between the leg-based triskelion and the spiral form known as the triskele.

Historically, the motif appears in various European contexts from the Neolithic to the modern era. A famous example is the triple spiral motif found at Knowth and other sites in Brú na Boinne, Ireland. Three-legged emblems also appear in heraldry and art, most notably on the flag and coat of arms of the Isle of Man, and in the trinacria symbol on the flag of Sicily, which shows three bent legs arranged around a central Medusa head.

Symbolically, triskelions are commonly interpreted as representations of motion, cyclicality, and balance. They are associated with triadic concepts such as life–death–rebirth, land–sea–sky, or mind–body–spirit, though meanings vary by culture and era. In modern times the symbol appears in heraldry, logos, jewelry, and neopagan or ceremonial contexts, where it is often used to convey dynamism and interconnectedness rather than a single fixed meaning.

See also: triskele, triple spiral.

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