Triskelion

Triskele by the Gallic helmet Amfreville -sous -les -Monts

Triskelenform from the Celtic Art

Celtic Triskele from three stylized birds heads

The Triskele, also or the Triskel (from Greek τρισκελής " three-legged ") is a symbol in the form of three radially symmetrical arcs, open spirals, interlaced triangles, nodes, patterns, human legs or other triple forms.

History

The first triskel or their role models are assigned to the Neolithic period, including the triple- spiral in the megalithic site of Newgrange in Ireland. The symbol is known primarily for his large and varied distribution in the Nordic ( Gotland picture stones, Runestone Snoldelev ) and Celtic culture. In addition, it is found in almost all cultures of the world: from North Africa (especially Egypt ) and the European Mediterranean through Asia Minor (eg Lycia ) and East Asia (Korea, Japan, for example, the Tomoe ) to the Gothic architectural style of the late middle Ages in Europe ( Dreischneuß ). The Triskele is national or regional symbol of the Isle of Man, Brittany and Sicily. It shapes the city's coat of feet and other communities.

Importance

Little is known about the original meanings of the Triskel spirals. Frequently, as with most spirals, believed that they stand for the way of life or symbolic of the sun.

In today's interpretation of the "magic number" three, particularly in Celtic mythology has meaning plays a major role. Thus, different contexts and sequences may be accepted:

• Past, present and future
• Birth, life and death
• Body, mind and soul
• Earth, water and air within the meaning of the four- element theory
• The triad of gods and / or goddesses
• Succession of generations and age ( example: young girl, mother, crone, according to aspects of the Triune Goddess)

Uses

Today, the Triskele finds in Europe, for example in the form of jewelry pendants, as a talisman to protect against bad luck and to avert evil or as ornamental forming tattoo motif usage.

Heraldry

Triskelische arrangements are in heraldry spread encountered: So, for example, use the coat of arms of the municipality Döhlau (see right: a) in Upper Franconia, the town of Füssen ( b ) in Bavaria, the community Suederbrarup ( c ) in Schleswig -Holstein, the local community Minheim ( d) on the Moselle and the national flags of Sicily ( s), Ingushetia ( f) and the Isle of Man ( g) of this symbol as a basis.

Nazism and ethnic organizations

The Triskele formed - as a variant of the swastika - the symbol of the 27th SS Volunteer Grenadier Division " Langemarck " (a). Later, the Triskele was used as a symbol by some nationalist organizations, such as the South African Boer organization Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging ( b ) and the neo-Nazi network Blood and Honour.

BDSM

Triskel symbolize the division of roles within the BDSM ( Top, bottom, switch). In addition, they often serve as a distinctive mark (a). This function satisfies the provided with a Triskele Ring of O ( b ) also from the novel The Story of O by Pauline Réage. He was portrayed in the novel as follows:

" The man held her now a wood chain with a loud same rings back and asked them to choose from a ring that fit on her left ring finger. It was weird iron rings, inside edged with gold; the broad, heavy frost, similar to the version of a signet ring, but highly curved, carried in Nielloarbeit a golden wheel with three spokes that were spirally curved, as in the sun of the Celts. "