The pattern appears on a number of stone monuments from the Neolithic period (from around 5500 BC) through to the end of the Iron Age (around 1000 AD). Following the spread of Christianity, the triskele was adopted as a fill pattern in post-Celtic Christian illuminated manuscripts, such as the 7th century Book of Durrow and the 9th Century Book of Kells.
The triskele is found throughout Europe and follows the migration of the Celts from Central Europe to the east and to the west. In the UK this pattern is found most commonly as stone carvings in Scotland and Ireland. There is no contemporary evidence for the meaning of the triskele, but with the influence of Celtic and Druidic revivalists, one may make an educated guess.
The Druidic Three Elements
In Druidry: A Green Way of Wisdom, (Weiser, 2006), John Michael Greer explains that revived Druid lore is based on three elements:
- Gwyar: Representing blood, or fluidity. The source of change, growth and decay, whose image is running water.
- Calas: Representing solidity. The source of form, differentiation and stability whose image is stone.
- Nwyfre: Representing the sky or Heaven. The source of life and consciousness whose image is the blue sky.
Everything in the universe is composed of these three elements in combination. It may be that the triskele was a representation of these – the source of all living things - in perfect harmony.
The Significance of the Number Three
The Celts ascribed great significance to the number three. To them, everything of importance occurred in threes – birth/life/death; birth/death/rebirth; the visible phases of the moon (new, half and full); land, sea and sky; the realms of otherworld, mortal world and celestial world. It has also been suggested that the whirling vortices of the triskele represent forward motion – cycles of development, progress or growth – which may in turn be physical, emotional and spiritual.
The Triskele at Newgrange
As an illustration of continuity, the triskele is drawn in a single line without apparent beginning or end. Such a pattern has been found on a number of stone monuments and burial sites in Europe – one of the most well-known sites being the Newgrange Passage Tomb in Co Meath, Ireland.
This Neolithic burial site has many carved stones. The entrance stone pictured here contains single and triple spirals, in a double-line pattern. One line of the coil leads inwards to the centre of the spiral, another line leads out in the opposite direction – perhaps signifying the path towards death, and the path after death.
There is no undisputed evidence for the symbolism of the triskele or any other spiral representations. The Celtic tradition was oral, not written, and the original meaning of the image has been lost, with new interpretations imposed by subsequent generations. It is perhaps for this reason – the lack of proof positive - that the triple spiral continues to fascinate and intrigue, being fluid and receptive to our own interpretations.
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