Trinacria or Heraldry, the symbol of Sicily

The trinacria or heraldry is the symbol of Sicily and can be found everywhere on the island: not only on the official flag of the region with a yellow and red background, but also printed on ceramics, souvenirs, jewelry, fabrics, and postcards.

The figure is a coat of arms depicting a woman's head with three bent legs (triskelion) emerging from it. A symbol used since antiquity and spread in the West by the Greeks, the head represents the Sun God while the three legs represent the seasons of spring, summer, and winter. Already in Roman times, the trinacria lost this meaning, becoming simply the symbol of Sicily. Today it is even represented in the official coat of arms of the region, on a yellow and red background. The two colors represent the courage of the cities of Palermo and Corleone, which distinguished themselves during the Sicilian Vespers of 1282 by rising up against the French. Identified by Sicilians as a good luck charm and by tourists as a curious souvenir, the Sicilian trinacria also has meanings of fertility, purification, and good wishes.

The meaning of the Sicilian trinacria
The reason why this heraldic figure became the symbol of the region is simple: the three legs represent the three corners of the island, namely the headlands of Capo Boeo in the northwest near Trapani, Capo Peloro in the northeast near Messina, and Capo Passero in the south, near Syracuse. In fact, according to some, the word trinacria means precisely “three promontories,” from the Greek treis (three) and akra (promontory).
The elements of the trinacria

The symbol of the trinacria is made up of a series of elements:
- The head: the central body of the trinacria, the woman's head is actually that of a Gorgon, or more specifically Medusa, who according to mythology petrified anyone who looked at her. For this reason, the head of Medusa symbolizes the removal of evil, and its “petrification,” that is, a definitive annulment. Another reason could be the petrification, which alludes to her beauty in making anyone who sees her fall in love, and therefore, petrifying anyone who comes to visit and discover the beauties of the territory.

- The legs: the three legs bent at the knee, which emerge from the head of Medusa, recall the changes of life and the seasons. According to some, they represent the victory of the sun over darkness, and thus of good over evil, but they can also indicate the wheel of life, that is, the past, present, and future.

- The snakes: on the trinacria, the woman's hair is replaced by snakes, an animal symbol in many cultures and religions, which by shedding its skin represents renewal and rebirth.

- The wheat: in some versions of the Sicilian trinacria, the snakes are intertwined with ears of wheat, which symbolize wealth and fertility. According to some historians, the ears of wheat were added to the trinacria by the Romans, as they considered Sicily their “granary.”

Between reality and legend, this symbol is so closely linked to the island that the most devoted, with the word “trinacria,” actually mean “Sicily.” But beyond the geographical meaning we provided above, the Sicilian trinacria is at the center of a curious legend. It is said that, in ancient times, three wandering nymphs traveled collecting the most beautiful things that nature offered them, such as stones, trees, or fruits. Arriving at the place that is now Sicily, they found it so beautiful that they decided to stop, scattering into the sea everything they had collected, in three different places. In these three places, the waters of the sea opened, and three mountains emerged; the space between them rose from the water, and thus Sicily was born, with its particular triangular shape.

Origins of the trinacria

The trinacria has been present in Sicily for a very long time: in fact, coins have been found in the area of Syracuse, dating back to the 3rd century BC, on which this very symbol appears. But even further back in the centuries, the trinacria was already part of the customs of the ancient Greeks: Spartan warriors in fact engraved a bent leg on their helmets, which represented strength and courage. It was therefore they who imported this particular figure to Sicily, which over the years took on the form we know today.

From symbolism to art

Today, the Trinacria is considered a good luck symbol, and thus closely linked to superstition in Sicilian popular culture. For this reason, the depiction is used by all ceramic producers to decorate vases and objects to adorn homes, balconies, and walls with the aim of warding off the evil eye and driving away evil influences. 

In the past, in fact, it was customary to place it behind the doors of houses precisely to block the entry of evil and protect families; but not only that, it also represents a metaphor for fertility, rebirth, and purification, acquiring a meaning of good luck and auspiciousness when given as a gift.

A significant image also appreciated in various forms of art: the Trinacria also easily appears on fabrics, paintings, pearls, pendants, and more.

Like everything that represents Sicily, we are faced with a symbol with an ancient history, linked to legends and mythologies, which today represents the identity of a territory and its people.

*Reference
https://www.sicilia.info/trinacria/