We do know that it wasn’t originally a Celtic symbol, and it has appeared in cultures around the world and across the ages. Now that we have the Triquetra meaning out of the way, it’s time to look at the symbol’s rich history.Īs we said earlier, no one knows when the Triquetra was drawn for the first time, though it’s believed to date back as far as the 4th century BC. In fact, versions of the Triquetra meaning from the Celtic Christianity period formed the sign of the fish, a symbol synonymous with Christianity. It would’ve been easy enough to work with something familiar to teach new lessons of faith. The Triquetra meaning for Christians was simple – it was a handy tool for teaching the ways of Christianity and the Holy Trinity. If you look up the Serch Bythol symbol you’ll see how this symbolism can be expanded on in other designs, which is why it is one of the more popular Celtic family symbols. One of our favourite takes on it is that the Triquetra symbolises the body, mind, and spirit, bound together to form the soul. Some believe that the three points mirror the three domains of earth land, sea, and sky. This relates to the nature of the ancient Celtic Goddess the mother represents creation, the maiden represents innocence, and the crone symbolises wisdom. To this day you’ll find many people with deep Irish roots talking about the Triquetra representing, not the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone. One popular belief is that the three points symbolised the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, with the endlessly looping pattern representing eternity. For them, the Triquetra may have represented a whole host of things. The Celts revered the number three, believing that everything of importance comes in threes. Exactly what it might have meant to the ancient Celts, we cannot know for certain, but we can have a pretty good guess. Remember, this is an ancient symbol that predates Christianity by hundreds of years. It’s easy to assume that the Celtic Trinity Knot is all about the Holy Trinity, but that’s not quite the case. The Triquetra meaning varies greatly depending on the group using it. A relatively modern take on the Celtic Triquetra symbol has it entwined with a love heart, symbolising love (see the Celtic Love Knot for more). You may see variations of this design, and it’s not uncommon for the Triquetra to be interlaced with a circle. In fact, the Fish sign-a classic Christian symbol-is essentially a Triquetra on its side. Some historians believe the Celtic Triquetra symbol was used by Celts before they converted to Christianity, and that missionaries used the symbol as a teaching aid. Indeed, the symbol’s earliest appearances in Celtic insular art are on religious manuscripts and stonework, from the time of Celtic Christianity. The Christian TrinityĪlso known as the Celtic Trinity Knot, the Triquetra has a strong connection to the Holy Trinity in Christianity. It’s made from one continuous, ever-flowing line, which is said to represent eternity. The central oval points up, while the other two sit on either side of it, pointing down and to the sides. It features three pointed ovals, all interlaced with one another. The Triquetra has an iconic design that has truly stood the test of time. The Celtic Triquetra first appeared in insular art around the 7th century, famously in the Book of Kells, but also carved into Celtic Crosses and holy buildings and monuments. It’s not unique to Celtic culture either, with examples of the Triquetra being found across the globe, dating back to various periods, including the iron age. It’s a hot topic for debate, but it’s generally accepted that the symbol is at least 5,000 years old. The Triquetra symbol is old, but like many ancient symbols, no one knows for sure where and when it exactly originated. Before we look at the Trinity Knot meanings and it’s history, take 20 seconds to read the points below as they’ll get you up-to-speed quickly: 1.
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