CELTIC SYMBOL: TRISKELE

Celtic symbols are very mysterious and interesting to explore. After all, they speak about the cycles of life and teach us interesting lessons. In this blog post, we will learn more about the symbol called Triskele.

The Celtic Spiral | Triskele

The name Triskele comes from the Greek name Triskeles. Tri means three and Skelos means leg which makes Triskeles three-legged. As we also notice on the symbol, it represents three bent legs. Historians believe that this may be the oldest spiritual symbol in the world. This is not a symbol that was invented by the Celts as this three-legged spiral was found in the Newgrange tomb in Meath 2,500 years before the Celts arrived in Ireland. However, the Celts used this symbol often as it was found in their cultural possessions. The Celts also believed that 3 is an extremely important number which makes historians believe that this symbol had a large traditional impact.

Een meisje aan de ingang van de 'Newgrange Passage Tomb'.

It is believed that this mysterious symbol was already present in the Neolithic era. Because of this timeframe, nobody actually knows for sure what it was used for. In 4400-3600 BC, the Triskele was found on the island of Malta. This is one of the earliest finds! In the Bronze Age during the Mycenaean period, they found the Triskele symbol even in Greek ships!

Symbolism

Many people have different opinions about the meaning of this intriguing symbol. If you start asking mister google you will probably find different meanings. Some say it means family to the Celts but in my opinion that would be too simple for the complexity of its forms. What I personally think, based on their druidic culture and connection to nature and the spiritual world, is that it symbolizes the three worlds;

The current physical world, earthly life.
The spiritual world in connection with our ancestors and the Gods & Goddesses.
The heavenly world in which the moon and stars appear.

Many historians agree with this theory and this seems to be the most plausible explanation for the mysterious triskele symbol. Other meanings of this 3 legged symbol are that it represents;

- The Physical body, the mental and the soul.

- Past, present and future.

- Creation, Destruction en Rebirth.