Triquerta Bone Pendant

The triquetra- Its original meaning was simply "triangle" and it has been used to refer to various three-cornered shapes. Nowadays, it has come to refer exclusively to a certain more complicated shape formed of three vesicae piscis, sometimes with an added circle in or around it. Its original meaning was simply "triangle" and it has been used to refer to various three-cornered shapes. Nowadays, it has come to refer exclusively to a certain more complicated shape formed of three vesicae piscis, sometimes with an added circle in or around it. The triquetra is often found in Insular art, most notably metal work and in illuminated manuscripts like the Book of Kells. The fact that the triquetra very rarely stood alone in medieval Celtic has cast a reasonable doubt on its use as a symbol in context where it was used primarily as a space filler or ornament in much more complex compositions. But Celtic art lives on as both a living folk art tradition and through several revivals.

The symbol meaning of the Triquetra typically represents the three stages of the feminine life cycle, the maiden (the young virgin), the mother (pregnancy and motherhood), and the crone (old age and wisdom). It can also represent the threefold of nature, earth, water, and sky or it can represent three fishes ("Pisces"). During the persecution of the Christians, the fish was a valuable and secret symbol. When two people of the Christian faith came together one would draw half the fish in the sand, and if the other drew the other half of the fish symbol in the sand, they knew it was ok to talk. The Circle represents unending love for and from the creator, and unending love for man and woman.