Triskelion
What Is the Triskelion?
The Triskelion, also known as the Triskele, is a timeless symbol formed by three spirals or legs radiating from a single center. This elegant, swirling motif has captivated cultures for millennia, representing motion, cycles, and the deep harmony found in the number three. More than mere ornamentation, the Triskelion is a visual expression of cosmic flow and the sacred rhythms of life.
A Symbol with Prehistoric Roots
The Triskelion's story begins in the depths of prehistory. Some of the earliest spiral forms resembling it were carved into the megalithic temples of Malta, such as Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra, dating back as far as 4400 BCE. These sacred sites, aligned with celestial events, suggest that spiral symbolism played a key role in humanity’s early spiritual life.
Around 3200 BCE, a distinct triple spiral appears at Newgrange in Ireland. This ancient tomb, aligned with the rising sun on the winter solstice, features a carved Triskelion on its entrance stone—a clear indicator of the symbol’s connection to life, death, and rebirth. Later, in the 7th century BCE, the Triskelion evolved in the Greek world, especially in Sicily, where the three-legged version known as the Trinacria became the emblem of the island. In Celtic Europe, the symbol flourished during the Iron Age, appearing in sacred art and metalwork as a sign of divine triplicity and the cycles of nature.
Meaning and Symbolism
The Triskelion’s meaning has transformed across cultures, but its essence remains grounded in movement, change, and balance. Its three arms may represent natural cycles such as birth, life, and death or elemental realms like land, sea, and sky. Others have seen it as a metaphor for personal growth, inner balance, and the flow of time through past, present, and future. The symbol’s motion—from the center outward—suggests expansion and transformation, reflecting the way energy moves through life and the universe.
Occult and Mystical Interpretations
The Triskelion has also found a lasting place in the realms of mysticism and esoteric traditions. In Wicca and modern pagan paths, it is often linked to the Triple Goddess in her forms of Maiden, Mother, and Crone. Alchemists and occultists have interpreted the symbol as a map of transformation—an emblem of the process by which elements dissolve, reform, and evolve. Even in sacred geometry, the spiral-shaped Triskelion connects to the golden ratio and Fibonacci sequence, embodying the mathematical principles that shape growth in nature.
A Symbol That Still Resonates
Today, the Triskelion continues to inspire. It appears on the flags of both Sicily and the Isle of Man, carved into jewelry, inked as tattoos, and used in contemporary spiritual practices. It endures because its message is timeless: all things move, all things change, and all things return to the center. Whether viewed as a protective emblem, a symbol of unity, or a key to spiritual flow, the Triskelion speaks to the part of us that seeks rhythm, meaning, and harmony in the unknown.
