2651) The "Triskelion" (Emblem) of Isles of Man (A British Overseas Territory (BOT): Millennium of Tynwald (1000th anniversary of IOM's National Parliament in 1979)": Isle of Man Post (IOMP) has issued 4 Stamps to celebrate the milestone: Date/Year of Stamp Set issue: 06.01.2023:
" The Trislelon is a greek word for three-leg, which was found on an Athenian shield used as a competition prize around 500 BC" - (From the Reference Book in my personal library titled "SIGNS & SYMBOLS").
What is a Triskelion?
A "Triskelion" or "Triskeles" is an ancient motif consisting of a triple spiral exhibiting rotational symmetry.
The spiral design can be based on interlocking Archimedean spirals or represent three bent human legs.
It was found in artefacts of the European Neolithic and Bronze Age with continuation into the Iron Age especially in the context of the La Tène culture related Celtic traditions.
The actual triskeles symbol of three human legs is found especially in Greek antiquity, beginning in archaic pottery and continued in coinage of the classical period.
In the Hellenistic period, the symbol becomes associated with the island of Sicily, appearing on coins minted under Dionysius I of Syracuse beginning in c. 382 BCE.
It later appeared in heraldry, and, other than in the flag of Sicily, came to be used in the flag of the Isle of Man (known as ny tree cassyn "the three legs").
Greek τρισκελής (triskels) means "three-legged".
While the Greek adjective "τρισκελής" (three-legged -for example legs of a table)" is ancient, use of the term for the symbol is modern, introduced in 1835 by Honoré Théodoric d'Albert de Luynes as French triskèle, and adopted in the spelling triskeles following Otto Olshausen (1886).
The form "triskelion" (as it were Greek "τρισκέλιον") is a diminutive which entered English usage in numismatics in the late 19th century.
The form consisting of three human legs (as opposed to the triple spiral) has also been called a "triquetra of legs" (or triskelos, triskel).
About The Triskelion Collection - Isle of Man:
The "Triskelion" (also triskeles or triskel) is an ancient symbol seen in Ireland, for example, carved in stone and believed to date back to Neolithic times.
Derived from an ancient sun symbol, the Celtic triskel had various meanings for the early inhabitants of the Isle of Man - it was linked to Triadic Gods and the three domains of land, sea and sky and was also believed to represent the cycles of life, as well as the Triple Goddess - the maiden, mother and wise woman.
It should not be surprising, therefore, that the Manx Parliament consists of three divisions – the House of Keys, Legislative Council and Tynwald.
Nor the fact that the ancient open-air Tynwald ceremony at St John’s used to occur to greet the rising sun on Midsummer’s Day. The three-legged symbol, which indicated rotary movement, was regarded as representing the three-spoked wheel of the sun god’s chariot as it crossed the sky.
The legs are usually seen to run clockwise, and the symbol often appears with the Latin motto ‘Quocunque Jeceris Stabit,’ (meaning "it will stand whichever way you throw it’) – a reference to the independence and resilience of the Manx people, who prefer the version ‘whichever way you throw me, I will stand!’
The Stamps:
The four graphic artworks on these IOMP stamps are derived from:
- the three legs as they appear in Douglas Town Hall
- the triskelion design used to celebrate the Millennium of Tynwald (the 1000th anniversary of our national parliament in 1979)
- a three legs stone carving observed on a building in Castletown and
- a modern design interpretation of the three legs of Man.
The First Day Cover (FDC) is titled "THE TRISKELION COLLECTION" at lower left and shows a Triskelion.
At the top are affixed the four stamps issued in the set cancelled with a Special Cancellation Handstamp/Postmark of Douglas Post Office. The Cancellation is dated - "06.01.2023".
The Presentation Pack (PP)
A Full Sheet (FS) of five stamps each of the four Variants.
Technical details:
Issue Date: 06.01.2023
Designer: EJC Design
Printer: bpost
Process: Offset Lithography
Size: 40.00 mm x 31.66 mm
Values: 80p, £1.14, £1.51, £2.80
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Santosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"Thanks for sharing this interesting post. Keep it up."
Thank you so much, Khanna sahab.
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