Triskelion and Spirals

(The entrance to Bru na Boinne at Newgrange in Ireland, depicting several spirals, particular a large triple spiral on the left that resembles a triskelion. Taken on my family's trip to Ireland in 2010.)

The triskelion is a very intriguing symbol consisting of three connected spirals. I have seen it on a stone in Ireland that dates farther back than even the pyramids in Egypt and Stonehenge (see above), but I've also seen it across the European continent on a little Mycenaean burial vase on display in Athens, Greece: 

Like its brother symbol, the Celtic knot, the triskelion's meaning is unknown, and thus is extensively speculated on. Over time, Christianity adopted the symbol to represent the Trinity and eternity, much like the triquetra. Two other interpretations that are similar are that it represents the Celtic triple goddess or the three realms of the world: land, water, and sky (see this).

(A symbol reminiscent of the triskelion on a Roman influenced dress pin in the British Museum.)

The differences to the triquetra bring a whole other flood of interpretations, however. For example, this article states that spirals may symbolize "the accomplishment of an individual to balance his inner and outer self and reflects on his personal spirit. The pattern also symbolizes the Cosmos, Heavens, and Water (waves).... The single spiral may symbolize growth, expansion, and even cosmic energy. For instance, the ancient inhabitants of Ireland used the spiral to represent the sun..." According to this symbol dictionary, the triskelion is also connected with the afterlife, reincarnation, and childbirth, all of which are valid interpretations for this vague symbol, though these interpretations lack sources. Another rather more common interpretation is that it is connected with energy, motion, and time, because the three spirals resemble three legs running and are in constant motion (for more interpretations on this, see this site or this site, and I also thought this one was rather fascinating).

(My necklace: a triskelion from Vezelay and a quaternary Celtic knot from the British Museum.)

All of the interpretations on the triskelion and spiral lead me to the general conclusion that it symbolizes life and the many aspects of life, as life is pretty much at the center of all of the interpretations. However, I also think that it may be possible that the creators of the symbol knew of the importance of the number three, particularly in the Godhead (God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost), and thus they created the symbol to represent that belief, though many others today think that this idea of a Godhead and Trinity didn't exist until Christianity. At the same time, this interpretation that it symbolizes the Godhead includes almost all of the other interpretations (nixing, perhaps, the triple goddess thing ;)), including the overarching life, since the Godhead and the Plan of Happiness and life are all interconnected.

(Spiral symbols that are reminiscent of the triskelion at the Archeological Museum in Athens, Greece.)