Triskelion Triskelion A triskelion or triskele is a 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. Both terms are from Greek ("triskelion") or ("triskeles"), "three-legged", from prefix "τρι-" ("tri-"), "three times" + "σκέλος" ("skelos"), "leg". A triskelion is a traditional symbol of Sicily, where it is called "trinacria"; the Isle of Man, where it is known in Manx as "Tree Cassyn Vannin", and Brittany where it is known as "Triskèle". Ingushetia also has a (stylised) triskelion in its flag. The triskelion symbol appears in
Terminology of the British Isles excludes the Republic of Ireland. In October 2006, "The Times" quoted a spokesman for the Irish Embassy in London as saying that they would discourage its use. During a stop-over visit to the Republic of Ireland in 1989, the leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, indicated that he assumed Ireland's head of state was Queen Elizabeth II, given that she was the British Queen and his officials said that Ireland was a part of the British Isles. In Northern Ireland, some nationalists reject the term and instead use "these islands", "these isles" or "Britain and Ireland" as an alternative.