The Trinacria is a symbol for the millenia - one which has taken root and has become a passionate Sicilian tradition. It derives from the archaic Triskele, that is that strange figure composed of a head of woman from which three human legs are folded at the knee - of Sicily, the notion of the geographic triangular shape of the island finds one of symbolic depiction of the monster with three legs, trìquetra (to three apexes or triangular). In fact, its particular geographic configuration, characterized from three capes, Pachino, Peloro and Lilibeo, are very well adapted to that figure to which the Romans imposed the same overall name for the Island. Perhaps from this configuration to the three apexes, the name Triquetra or Trinacria was given in the Hellenistic Age. That strange and characteristic representation at the same time, was of the Gorgon-like figure of three legs, and was even adopted in some coins of classic antiquity, and become the official symbol of the island. Philology supports that this last denomination is improper, while it is contended more that in Greek the Triskéles, is translatable into " three legs ".

Students agree in asserting that the draft of an ancient religious oriental symbol is that which is the God Baal or the sun is representing the God Baal, in its triple shape of the Gods of Spring, Summer and Winter, and the representation of the moon with the legs sometimes replacing the lunar scythes. Its more ancient documentary manifestations are found in coins of several cities of Asia Minor, such as Aspendo in Panfilia, Olba in Cilicia, Berrito and Tebe in the Troade, and variable cities of Lycea, dating from the VI to the IV century B.C.

The Trinacria symbol, if losing its original solar value, nevertheless acquired a sacred status in Sicily as it transformed itself into a talisman. In its essentially divine geographic value, it was so identified with Sicily in its various denominations of Trinacria, Triscele, Triquetra and Trichetria. The symbol of the Trinacria is found in the Island of Man in the sea of Ireland, and accordingly carried a local legend from the Normans who came into Sicily in the X - XI centuries. The Normans replaced the ancient symbol of the Irish island which was then under a Scandinavian king with the Trinacria. It flew from their boats and vessels. The Sicilian symbol is found in coats of arms of foreign noble families, such as the English Stuart of Albany (probably in order to indicate their dominion of the islands of the Irish sea, such as the Island of Man), the Drocomir of Polonia, the Rabensteiner of Franconia, the Schanke of Denmark, as well as those also in more recent times. King Gioacchino Murat incorporated the Trinacria in his coat-of-arms, holding account that this same figure was most diffuse in the antiquity in other countries, such as: Lycea, Panfilia, Pisidia, Clay, Rodi, Macedonia, Thrace, Celtic Iberian Spain, and Celtic countries such as the Island of Man, etc. - to which, if they did not tie a geographic connection - what is therefore, its true meaning or its original one?

The HYPOTHESES Of PHOENICIAN ORIGIN
The HYPOTHESES Of GREEK ORIGIN
The HYPOTHESES Of MINOAN ORIGIN

Finally, as regards the official flag of the Sicilian Region, it is made from a bicolored yellow rose drapery with the old triscelic symbol of the Trinacria in the center , then diagonally it expresses the yellow of the civic flag of Palermo and red of the civic flag of Corleone, which was the first common Sicilian flag to follow the example of Palermo at the time of the vigorous anti-French uprising of the Sicialian Vespers in the important City of Palermo, 30 March 1282.

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Realizzazione CEM 21/02/1996

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