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One third of a Triskelion, a type of key. A key that, according to legend, opens the ancient Tomb of Ashkanar.
Gaius to Arthur[src]

The Triskelion is a magical artifact of Druid origin. It was split into three equal pieces that joined together to form a key to the Tomb of Ashkanar.

History[]

When Ashkanar hid the last remaining dragon egg in the tomb meant for himself, he divided the Triskelion into three separate pieces and hid them throughout Albion. Four hundred years later, one of these pieces fell into the possession of Julius Borden, who decided to find the tomb and steal the dragon egg for his own gain. He eventually stole the two remaining pieces from a Druid clan and, with Merlin's help, the vaults of Camelot.

Once the Triskelion was assembled, Borden betrayed Merlin and made his way to the tomb alone. He used it to the open the door, but doing so triggered a trap that dispersed knock out gas, rendering Borden unconscious. Borden soon recovered, however, and left the Triskelion at the door when he continued on. It was presumably destroyed when the tomb later collapsed (Aithusa).

Etymology[]

  • "Triskelion" is derived from the Greek words "tri" and "skelos", which mean "three" and "leg", respectively.

Trivia[]

  • According to Gaius, the Triskelion was inscribed with runes written in a Druid tongue. He also claimed that the runes were bound in threes, which was rare (Aithusa).
  • Mordred's Druid mark was a tattoo of a Triskelion. He originally lived with a clan led by Iseldir, who was later revealed to be guarding a piece of the Triskelion (The Beginning of the End, Aithusa).

Historicity[]

Triskelions (also known as triskeles) are ancient motifs consisting of a triple spiral exhibiting rotational symmetry. The design is typically based on either interlocking Archimedean spirals, or a representation of three human legs.

Triskelions are often found in artifacts from Europe's Neolithic, Bronze, and Iron Ages, and are particularly prevalent in Celtic traditions. In the Helenistic period, they became associated with the island of Sicily, appearing on coins, heraldry, and the flag. It has also been used on the flag of the Isle of Man.

The triskelion (particularly the triskeles symbol of three human legs) is also common in Greek antiquity, often appearing on artifacts such as ancient pottery and coinage from the classical period.

Mythology[]

The Triskelion is a complex symbol in Celtic mythology. It has been said to represent a variety of meanings for early Pagans, including the belief that everything happens in batches of threes; the inner and outer worlds; the themes of births, deaths, and rebirths; and the unity of the mental, physical, and spiritual self.

Other interpretations that have been suggested include the sun, triadic gods, and the three domains of land, sea, and sky. The Triskelion was also believed to represent the three aspects of the Triple Goddess: Maiden, Mother, and Crone. For Celtic Christians, the symbol was used to represent the Holy Trinity.

Gallery[]

See Also[]

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