The Triquetra Three is a very important number in Celtic and Wiccan traditions. The Triquetra represents the threefold nature of the Goddess as virgin, mother and crone. It symbolizes life, death, and rebirth and the three forces of nature: earth, air, and water. The inner three circles represent the female element and fertility. The Triquetra symbol itself dates as early as the eighth century on carved stones in northern Europe. A Norse rune known as the Odin Knot or Val Knot resembles it also. The pagan reverence for the symbol of three was quickly picked up by the Christians. In fact, the Triquetra itself is sometimes seen on the robes of Catholic priests; as is the now widely known symbol the christians used to entice the Irish Celts to convert, the shamrock. Christianity re-invented the symbolism of three to mean the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, i.e., the Trinity. Symbolic three is important in Japan as the World Triad (mitsu tomoe) in Tibet as the Cosmic Manadala. Moreover, the World Triad was adopted by Gnostics as a symbol for the threefold nature of destiny. It can also symbolise eternity. See also: Triskelion Sources may include: Personal knowledge, Celtic Folklore, Bellinus Press: Wiltshire, Celtic Magic by DJ Conway, Celtic Designs, Dover Publications: Toronto, Ontario, The Celtic Book of the Dead  by Caitlin Matthews, Celtic Wisdom by Caitlin and John Matthews, Celtic Cross Stitch by Anne Orr and Lesley Clark, Signs, Symbols & Omens," by Raymond Buckland and Celtic Myth and Magick by Edain McCoy.  Page updated 28 Dec 2008 Celtic Animals Background by Míchealín Daugherty Copyright © 2008 Ireland's OWN All Rights Reserved.