http://www.fotw.ca/flags/im.html
I quote:
| Quote | The national flag of Man is a plain red field with the "trinacria" emblem in the centre. This is a banner of the arms which date back to the 13th century and are believed to be connected with Sicily, where a similar device was used in the Norman period.
The present rotation of the legs was restored by a royal proclamation in 1968.
Origin of the triskelion
According to the World Encyclopedia of Flags, by A. Znamierovski, 1999:
'The triskelion (from the Greek "three-legged") is one of the oldest symbols known to mankind. The earliest representations of it were found in prehistoric rock carvings in northern Italy. It also appears on Greek vases and coins from the 6th and 8th centuries BC., and was revered by Norse and Sicilian peoples. The Sicilian version has a representation of the head of Medusa in the center. The Manx people believe that the triskelion came from Scandinavia. According to Norse mythology, the triskelion was a symbol of the movement of the sun through the heavens.'
Jarig Bakker, 27 April 2000
In "Emblemes et symboles des Bretons et des Celtes" (Coop Breizh, 1998), Divy Kervella explores in depth the possible meaning of the triskell. It is the symbol of triplicity in unity, one of the basis of the Cetltic religion, and probably originally a solar symbol. Triplicity in the Celtic civilisation is examplified by: - the staff of the Celtic pantheon: Lugh, Daghda (Taran), and Ogme ; - the unique goddess who has three aspects: daughter, wife, and mother ; - the division of the society in three classes: priestly class, ruling and martial class, and productive class (craftsmen, farmers, fishers ...) - the philosophical conceptions of the world based on number 3: the three circles of existence, the bardic triads... The triskell is also oftren said to represent the three dynamics elements: water, air, and fire, or the wave of sea, the breath of wind, and the flame of fire. One of these elements is sometimes replaced by the furrow of the earth. A more complex interpretation says that the centre of the triskell is the static earth, which receives life from the three dynamic elements. The spiral could symbolize life, dynamics and enthusiasm, as opposed to everything straight and spellbound.
The representation of the triskell must be dextrogyrous (turning to the right). A senstrogyrous (turning to the left) triskell would have a maleficent, or at leat hostile meaning. Traditional Breton dances and processions always turn to the right. The war dances of the ancient Celts started by turning to the left to show hostility, and ended by turning to the right, as a sign of victory.
The triskell is close to the hevoud, another Celtic symbol and the Basque lauburu, and is probably of pre-Celtic origin (for instance on the cairn of Bru na Boinne in Ireland). Ivan Sache, 27 April 2000 |
If you want a short introduction into the question: "what is celtic/the celts" I recommend these sites:
http://celt.net/Celtic/celtopedia/indices/encycintro.html
http://member.rivernet.com.au/manxman/Celts/history.htm
http://www.accesscom.com/~wangbick/origins.html
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<td>Alba (Scotland)</tr>
<td>Cymru (Wales)</tr>
<td>Kernow (Cornwall)</tr>
<td>Mannin (Isle of Man)</tr>
<td>Galicia (Spain)</tr>
<td>Briezh (Brittany)</tr>
<td>Eire (Ireland)</tr>