The Flag
of the Isle of Man
The flag of
the Isle of Man consists of a triskelion composed of three armoured legs with
golden spurs on a red background. It has
been the official flag since 1932 and is based on the Manx coat of arms which
dates back to the 13th century.
A triskelion
is a symmetrical triple rotating spiral and dates back to early Maltese symbols
of 4400 -3600 BC and to the well known
(at least to us) calendar stones in Ireland, like the entrance stone at New
Grange in County Meath dating to c3200 BC.
The latter reinterpreted as a symbol of the Trinity by early Irish Christianity
The actual
triskeles symbol of three human legs is found in Greek antiquity, beginning in
archaic pottery and continuing in coinage in the classical period, the 5th and 4th centuries BC.
The triskelion was adopted as emblem by the rulers of Syracuse (Sicily) in the5th century BC probably relating to the Greek name for Sicily “Triacria” meaning having three headlands and referring to the triangular shape of the island. The Sicilian triskeles has the head of Medusa at the centre. This ancient symbol has been introduced into the Sicilian flag since 1848. A triskeles was included on the British army medal commemorating the battle of Maida, a town in the toe of Italy, between a British/Sicilian expeditionary force and a French/Italian force with Polish legions, during the Napoleonic Wars (1803 -1815). Later versions of the Sicilian flag have retained the emblem including the official one, adopted in 2000.
Historically
the Isle of Man was part of the Kingdom of the Isles. In 1266 the sovereignty of the Isle of Man
and the Hebrides was transferred from the king of Norway to Alexander III of
Scotland. Up until this time no
suggestion of the triskelion can be found on any Manx emblems but it was common
in Scandinavian lands. Its first appearance in the last half of the 13th century may be connected with this change of regime. It may also be connected to Constance the
mother of Frederick II of Germany (Holy Roman Emperor, King of Germany, Italy, Sicily
and Jerusalem!). Although there is no
evidence that the triskelion was used in Sicily in the 13th century
it was used in Austria at that time almost certainly relating toa personal
emblem of Fredrick II and stemming from his Sicilian connection. Four years after Frederick’s death the crown
of Sicily to Edmund Crouchback, the second son of Henry III of England. This and the familial connection English and
Scottish royal families might account for the triskeles introduction as a
symbol of the Isle of Man. Since then
the triskelion has endured and remained the emblem of the island.
By the 17th century the triskelion was appearing on coinage and by the mid 19thcentury on flags of merchant ships.
These flags were not sanctioned by the Admiralty or by the Board of Trade
who insisted that ships carry the Red Ensign.
This ruling was reversed in1889 and ships were permitted to fly a flag
of the Isle of Man. Currently a version of the Red Ensign with
the triskelion on the fly is flown by Manx merchant ships. The Isle of Man flag was officially adopted between1928
and 1932.
In July 1968
steps were taken to standardise the flag.
The feet of the triskelion were all to be facing in a clockwise
direction and to be balanced with one leg facing the bottom, and this is how it remains today.
Never knew it was anywhere else except the IoM. Next you'll be telling us there are tailless cats in other places too!
ReplyDeleteI wonder why it was so popular? Seems to have been used in such a range of places. And.. I like the feet all going the same way bit. Although I think three legs are odd really.
ReplyDeleteIt'll stand whichever way it falls...can't remember the Latin,
ReplyDeleteit has quocunque jecerit in it though.
I don't believe that... If it's flat it won't stand surely?
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