Triquetra



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    Triquetra.----Three human thighs and legs, so conjoined together by their tops as in a center that they form every way a triangular figure, whence its name is derived. It frequently appears on coins of Sicily, and is generally considered as bearing reference to the three principal promontories of that island.----Eckhel, however, in ammadverting upon a disputed coin, classed among those of Mark Antony, controverts the opinion of Mazzolenus (who has Vaillant's and Spanheim's authority to support him), that the triquetra on ancient coins is a sure symbol of Sicily; and he adduces examples from medals of Suessa in Lucania, of Aspendus in Pamphilia, of Selge in Pisidia, of Lalassis in Isauria, of Argos and Olba in Cilicia, and of other cities, all which have the triquetra upon them, like those struck in Sicily, or which were coined at Rome with reference to Roman transactions in that island. From these it appears that this three-legged device is by no means a conclusive evidence of the Sicilian mint. On certain Roman medals differences are observable in the form of the limbs which compose the triquetra.----Placed behind the beardless head of a man, the triquetra alludes, on a denarius of the Claudia family, to the conquest of Sicily, by the celebrated Claudius Marcellus.----It appears, with the winged head of Medusa in the center, on silver coins of the Aquileia family and Cornelia family; in the latter instance, corn-ears (allusive to Sicilian fertility) are added. The same three-cornered figure offers itself on a gold coin of Augustus.----See Sicilia----also see Claudia.

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