Triskelion

"It’s in a druid tongue. The bind runes are in threes. That’s rare."

- Gaius as he examines the Triskelion

The Triskelion‎‎ was an item of ancient origin. It was split in three equal pieces and separately hidden. It was covered with runes in unique manner which caught Gaius' attention when Julius Borden, who tried to reunite the pieces to use it showed a piece to him. Holding the pieces in the designated position caused them to magically weld together.

History
"The Triskelion is not only a key...it's also a trap""

- Iseldir

As a part of a security system, the triskelion was made as another step to prevent access to the tomb of Ashkanar. Divided into three equal shaped pieces, they were hidden in different locations. One of the pieces was for over 400 years in the vault of Camelot, one was in the possession of a druid group around Iseldir. When Julius Borden stole it from them, he had the third piece already. Merlin eventually helped Borden to get the one in Camelot, because Gaius refused, being suspicious of his motives. And even though Gaius warned Merlin, the old stories were too appealing, since they told of a hidden dragon egg.

Once assembled, Borden betrayed Merlin and made his way alone, guided by the triskelion. Arrived at the mausoleum, Borden used it as a key for a door, which had an equally shaped indentation. But he triggered a trap which dispersed a white haze upon him. Merlin was warned by the druids who told him the old story that only druids knew, about the triskelion’s feature as a trap (Aithusa).

Historicity
The word Triskelion is formed by two greek words: tri (three) and skelos (legs). So the flag of Sicily shows three entwined legs and the symbol of the Isle of Man is also three entwined legs. Although it appeared in many geographic locations and historical periods, the triskelion is considered as a characteristic symbol of celtic culture and he became as well a symbol of Brittany.

Many interpretations have been suggested about his significations in celtic mythology: it may recall the Triple Goddess (Maiden, Mother and Crone), it may represent three of the four elements (earth, fire, water), or the past, the present and the future, or the three worlds (the world of the living beings, the world of the dead, the world of the spirits). Some say that a clockwise rotation of the triskelion has a beneficial effect and an anticlockwise rotation is of ill omen, some say that it doesn't matter. It's difficult to be sure, as the druids were very secretive and formed an oral society. Nevertheless, we can notice that the triskelion has an anticlockwise rotation, and the tattoo of Mordred, Freya and Iseldir too.

There are two forms of the ''Triskelion. ''There is one going clockwise and one going anti-clockwise. If the spirals on the Triskelion are going clockwise it means victory or triumph whereas is the Triskelion is going anti-clockwise it means maleficient or hostility. It is ironic how the Triskelion in Aithusa is turning anti-clockwise to show hostility and how Julius Borden did not notice or bother to look at the origins or meanings of the Triskelion.

Trivia

 * Etymologically, Triskelion is derived from "Tri", that means three, and "skelos" which is greek for leg, and is probably named as this because it consists of three similar parts.