While the use of familial crests is virtually dead today, except in select aristocratic circles, the design often finds its way into corporate logos. However, despite the prominence that the Trinity holds in the Church, we see that the early Christian Celts did not often depict the triquetra on its own in the early days of its use in their culture. Celtic Knot meaning – trinity meanings and patterns . Occasionally, you may see the Trinity knot enclosed within a circle as a means of emphasizing unity or eternity. The history and meaning of the trinity knot is often debated, especially since it holds meaning for both Christians and non-Christians alike. The Book of Kells, one of the most magnificently-decorated works of the Insular Art (Island Art) period features the triquetra but never as the subject of discussion or of an illustration; it is always used in the margins and other spaces as a ‘filler’. Despite its complex appearance, it is one of the most simple Celtic knots. As with many Celtic knots, the meaning of the Holy Trinity Knot for Christians is symbolized in the continuous line. In such cases, it is easy to trace the story of that symbol’s journey. However, at least one eminent historian believes the Trinity knot is not related to the Holy Trinity at all. The triquetra with the interlaced circle has become a popular symbol of love. It is also possible that the Triquetra signified the lunar and solar phases. Tradition says sailors … Used by Google Tag Manager to control the loading of a Google Analytics script tag. Celtic Knots and Their Meanings. The meaning of Triquetra or the Celtic Trinity Knot Symbol It is not alone in that respect. The mother as a goddess is representative of creation, the maiden is representative of innocence and the crone is representative of wisdom. The moon itself was a strong reference to the female because their menstrual cycles could be timed by it. The website cannot function properly without these cookies. As a basis on which to start our journey into the history of the triquetra, it is best to investigate the name itself. One might even say that a widespread prevalence of a particular symbol, like the triquetra, is almost directly linked not just to its popularity but its age. Later as life became somewhat easier for the ancient Celts the trinity came to mean mind, body, spirit … A vesicae piscis is the shaped defined by the overlap of two circles of equal size when each is positioned so that its center is on the other’s circumference. Since then, it has been used regularly in artwork, fashion and architecture, among other things. The triquetra occupies a special place in many different cultures and holds a unique significance for each of them. Most do not realize that the Book of Kells, which is an ‘illuminated manuscript’ (decorated with gold, silver and/or colorful dyes) from the Christian Celtic era. The meaning behind the trinity knot tattoo can be quite diverse, and for this reason many people choose this symbol to represent something close to their heart without having to reveal too much about the meaning. This knot has its own religious meaning. The triquetra, also known as a "trinity knot", is often found as a design element is popular Irish jewelry such as claddaghs and other wedding or engagement rings. - It can make a wonderful gift for a host of occasions such as an engagement, wedding and anniversaries. The Celts were very familiar with the trinity as the symbol of life being earth wind and water. The Celtic triquetra is attached to a multitude of symbolic meanings. The mensuration process was also linked the process of bringing life onto this earth, completing the circle. A popular interpretation today is that the act of combining the triquetra, which itself is unicursal and, therefore, a symbol of eternity, with the circle enhances the power of each of both the elements. Some variations of this knot include a circle at the center. It appears on their rune stones and has been found on their coins. Necessary cookies help make a website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website. One of the most common interpretations says that it symbolizes the Christian Trinity - the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost. We see the trinity motif in Celtic knots, as well as in symbol-form like the triquetra and triskelion (a.ka. The trio function as a single entity and the symbol appears on the cover of their ‘Book of Shadows’; when the power of three is intact, so is the symbol on the book but when the power of three is divided, the symbol is not united. Standard tracking, which makes our shop understand the necessity and places to improve our shop. However, the trinity knot, along with other Celtic knots, resurged during the Celtic Revival period in the mid-19 th century. In its original form of vesicae pisces, it incorporates the fish which is a popular Christian symbol. One of the great things about the Trinity knot is its versatility; it has been used as a symbol in a variety of religions and even today, it has new significance. This depicts the interconnection of the three elements which together make one whole element. This Celtic symbol has made various appearances in this modern-day, by featuring in the famous motion picture ‘Thor’ on Thor’s hammer as well as renowned American television series, Charmed, on their Book of Shadows. It is also representative of the forces of nature (earth, fire and water) and the three interlocking circles are symbolic of female fertility. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; It incorporates three vesicae piscis by the use of three arcs, each merging into one end of its two neighbors to complete a unicursal, a line without end. Below, we take an in-depth look at the Trinity knot and outline its history as well as analyzing what it meant to the various cultures that adopted it as a symbol. The triple nature of the feminine Divine is a popular theme in ancient pagan lore. As with most knot designs, this three-cornered design has multiple possible meanings. It was found with Celtic era solar and lunar symbols, suggesting it may have had astronomical significance. However, when we talk about the relationship between the Celts and the triquetra today, the most common examples do almost entirely away with the pagan traditions and talk of the Book of Kells instead. Everywhere you … It is often seen on engagement and wedding rings and associated decorations and paraphernalia. Interestingly, the Germanic people are one of the peoples most closely associated with the Indo-European race, the Aryans. In a time when Christianity was expanding into the northernmost parts of Europe, it was constantly encountering the erstwhile popular pagan religions that had flourished there. In reality, the odds are that you have probably seen it hundreds of times but simply not allowed yourself to recognize it as such. Related to the love knot is another infinite knot, the sailor's knot. The Triquetra is deemed to be the simplest knot which may come as a surprise to those of you who believe it is a complex design! The elaborate Triquetra, also known as the Trinity Knot or Celtic Triangle, is one of the most beautiful Celtic symbols and it shows a circle interwoven with a continuous three-pointed symbol. The beauty of the triquetra is that what appears to be a rather complicated shape is actually comprised of just three lines. It can also be said that the triquetra evolved from being a symbol that hinted at the female (mother, maiden, crone) to one that would be interpreted as male (‘Father’ and ‘Son’). On the other hand, the triquetra does seem to have journeyed north-eastwards by some means. Each of the three leaf-like shapes that form the symbol are not arbitrarily drawn, they are a mathematical shape called vesicae piscis. He goes on to say that any symbolism held by the Triquetra probably comes from the pagan era where it more than likely had an affinity with the Triskele. The triquetra is a Latin word, meaning “triangular” or “three-cornered.”. The Harp. Sometimes, the triquetra is also depicted with a circle interlocking the triangular shape. The triquetra symbol on its own as three intersecting vesicae piscis is the most basic version that we find, and perhaps the closest to the original that we have so many thousands of years after it was imagined. In this way, the gift of a piece of trinity knot jewelry from Ireland pays homage to the skills of craftsmen from a bygone era. One of the best known uses of the Triquetra comes from the hit TV series Charmed, featuring three sisters who happen to be witches. Trinity Knot In Ancient Celtic Art The recurrence this symbol suggests to some that the Trinity Knot had importance or meaning beyond just decoration. Today, the Trinity knot holds different meanings for different people, including as a symbol of ancient Irish culture and of pride for Welsh, Irish, and Scottish people. The most common representation are triple whorls known as mitsudomoe. In Japan, the design of a tomoe, interpreted as a ‘wishing’ or a ‘hoping’, that was used on family crests comes very close to resembling a triquetra in form. Christians believe that the three points of the Irish trinity knot represent the three elements of the holy trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. amzn_assoc_title = "Editor's Amazon Picks"; By the 15th century, knotwork once again became seen as part of a political and cultural identity and symbols such as the Trinity knot once again began to adorn weapons and jewelry. The oldest evidence of triquetras completes the circle back to India. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; It’s likely the Trinity knot had religious meaning for pagans and it also bears a resemblance to the Valknut which is a symbol associated with Odin, a revered God in Norse mythology. In the Celtic Christian world, the tri-symmetrical shape was quickly interpreted as alluding to the Holy Trinity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Celtic trinity knot, or triquetra, meaning. The triquetra, like most Celtic knots, is basically one continuous line interweaving around itself, with no beginning or end. triskele or fylfot) To the ancient Celtic mind, it may also signify the lunar or solar phases. There are many different views/opinions about the meaning of Trinity Celtic symbol. The Celtic Trinity knot is also known by the name, ‘Triquetra’. - The Trinity knot can even be used to outline the stages of a woman’s life; youth, motherhood and old age. It is because the triquetra, despite being of pagan origin, was embraced by the Church at a time when all their writings and rituals were conducted in Latin that we have ended up with this name. Also known as The Trinity Knot. The Celtic trinity knot has appeared in several guises through the centuries. The Celtic Cross was a religious or spiritual symbol. One very popular version of Celtic knot meaning is the Trinity knot. Usually, a trinity knot consists of a circle which passes the three loops, which are interconnected with each other. - The endless intertwining curves can also be representative of eternal love. The Celtic trinity knot, also known as a triquetra, is a three-pointed knot. Sailor's Knot. In Korea, the use of Taegeuk, which use interlocking curved shapes to form a multi-colored whole is most easily recognized around the world in the Yin-Yang symbol. Be that as it may, many evidences of a once great civilization still linger around today, also from their celtic mythology and the celtic symbols. This design is sometimes found on ceremonial drums. In the Christian faith, the three points of the Trinity knot represent the Holy Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Without any edges and without a beginning or an end, it has long been used as a symbol of magic and even plays a part in many religious rituals in cultures around the world. The celtic civilization has become history of course. The history of the use of the triquetra alternately exhibits each of those two traits. According to John Romilly Allen in his 1903 publication ‘Early Christian Monuments of Scotland’, the Trinity knot was used primarily for ‘ornamental purposes’ and the assumption that it stands for the Holy Trinity is unfounded. This symbol, also known as the “ trinity knot ” is meant to represent a trifold of things that are not independent of each other, a relationship of sorts. The tripartite representation is probably most famous as the Triple Goddess. I speak of the logo of the major Japanese automobile manufacturer, Mitsubishi. The trinity knot is also called a triquetra. The Celtic trinity knot dates back to the 5th century. The Celtic trinity knot dates back to the 5th century and was used extensively by ancient monks in illuminated manuscripts such as the Book of Kells and the Book of Durrow. From this, it seems very likely that although no trace of the symbol has been located in the Asian region between India and Europe, tribes who had used it in these two faraway regions had either interacted or interbred somewhere along the line. A popular version of the triquetra that we find today is one that incorporates a circle into the design. The Triquetra is a Celtic knot composed of three interlinked leaf-like shapes that form an overall triangular profile. It can also be said that the triquetra evolved from being a symbol that hinted at the female (mother, maiden, crone) to one that would be interpreted as male (‘Father’ and ‘Son’). Most people would assume that this was very exotic and specialized and that they would never have come across a Japanese version of the triquetra before. Essentially, a single Celtic knot with no end is considered the symbol for the eternal circle of life. 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