| Hello Herve,
You got my curiosity up...I went home and found the following
definition in "Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable."
Triskelion, from the Greek meaning "three legged" is the symbol of
both the Isle of Man and the island of Sicily.
It did not explain the origins of this symbol.
My father, a retired hydroelectric engineer, used to belong to an
engineering society called "Triskellion." He had a small pin in
the shape of the triskellion. I am curious as to why an engineering
society would choose this as their symbol. I'll give him a call to see
if he knows more about it.
Regards,
Diane St. Onge
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|
Herve,
To try an etymological approach....
Is it a compound word like tri-skell or tris-kell (book of kells?)
Apart from the meaning 3, the tri could be synonymous with the Welsh
and Cornish tre, meaning town or home. Tres is a word used for reins
or "traces".
I can't think of anything that would be close to skell (Welsh has no K
and the construct SC is rare) Might be sgi^l, meaning to "ride behind"
- someone on horseback. This is a contraction of 'is gil'.
How is the symbol drawn? Anything like the Manx three-leg symbol?
Regards,
Colin
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Re -1
Before anyone thinks I've been at the black stuff, Note 1 was not there
when I started to write note .2 (Honest!) Leg is coes or esgair so it
would be tri-esgair in Welsh, not a million miles in pronunciation from
triskell. Manx culture is heavily influenced by Nordic culture, so you
might have to look to the Vikings for an explanation of this symbol.
Incidentally, one of the things I remember about the Isle of Man is that
there is a huge hydro-powered mill there, and it's huge water wheel
is a local landmark.
Regards
C
PS - My list of Manx names identifies "Quayle" as being of manx origin.
This probably explains how Dan Quayle can keep one foot in his
mouth and still stand up.
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| Hello Herve,
I made a visit to the public library, and here is what I learned about
the triskelion.
*******************************************************************************
reprinted without permission...
From "An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Traditional Symbols" by J.C. Cooper,
(1978: London, Thames and Hudson, Ltd.)
Triskelion -- The three-legged, or three-footed, or three-pronged symbol which
largely shares the symbolism of the swastika. It is the "swift feet," probably
solar movement, or the sun as rising, zenith and setting; it is also suggested
as the lunar phases, renewal of life. Like the swastika it is a good luck
symbol. It frequently appears with solar symbols and is seen on ancient coins
of Aspendus in Pamphilia, on coins of Menecratia in Phrygia, on Celtic crosses
where it is presumed to represent the Trinity and is a symbol of the sea god
Manannan, and in Teutonic symbolism where it is connected with Thor. It is the
emblem of Sicily and the Isle of Man.
From "Dictionary of Mythology and Symbols" by Gertrude Jobes,
(1962: NY, Scarecrow Press)
Triskelion (triscele) -- Typifies the whirling sun. Symbolizes energy, motion,
victory. A lucky talisman. Variant of the swastika.
*******************************************************************************
I asked my father about the symbol. It was adopted as the symbol of his
engineering corporation, Stone and Webster Company. This is presumably because
of its connection with energy. If you are ever in Boston, you can see the
triskelion symbol atop the Stone and Webster building next to South Station.
I believe they also have an office in Paris (a little closer to you!)
Regards,
Diane St. Onge
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