202 W. Theobald — Notes on some of the symbols found on the [No. 3, 
single ‘ triskelis ’ surrounded by three similar and equidistant symbols, 
except that the central ‘ triskelis ’ revolves to the right, while those sur- 
rounding it, revolve in an opposite direction. Those symbols are sur- 
rounded by an ornamental border of the usual Celtic pattern, and the 
upper portion of the stone is occupied by a cross and a human figure. 
As a symbol of trinity in unity the symbols are appropriate, whether the 
design was borrowed from paganism unwittingly or not, but of the ex- 
treme antiquity of the design of the ‘ triskelis’ it is needless here to 
insist. 
The ' triskelis' also appears several times in company with the 
'swastika' on the celebrated Nigg Stone, Ross-shire (S. S. S. Vol. I, 
PI. XXVIII) of which the upper part exhibits an altar with two figures 
in an attitude of adoration, and a dove descending with the holy wafer 
in its bill. Below this on either side is a compartment, that on the 
right containing two large spheres ornamented with the usual Celtic 
interlaced pattern, round a central ‘ triskelis ’ ; and between the lai’ge 
spheres, a smaller one ornamented with the ‘ swastika ’ whilst in the 
compartment on the left, the largo spheres are filled with seven small 
spheres, each marked with the ‘swastika’ (jav ' triskelis’ in one or two), 
and the corresponding small sphere instead of the ‘ swastika ’ (as on 
the right hand) bears a ‘ triskelis.’ Yet in face of this it has been 
stated that “none of the symbols occur on this Stone” (S. S. S. p. 11.) 
From this I infer that the existence of the ‘ triskelis ’ and ‘ sivastika ’ 
was overlooked, and the symbols alluded to as not pi'csent, were those of 
purely Scottish extraction like ‘comb’ and ‘sceptre.’ 
A very remarkable and pregnant instance of the ‘ triskelis ’ occurs 
again on the Ulbster stone, Caithness, (S. S. S. Vol. I, PI. XL, fig. 2,) 
where this eminently solar symbol constitutes the centre of each 
‘ spectacle,’ in the so-called ‘ spectacle ’ mark. 
A remarkable form of the ‘triskelis’ appears on a stone at St. 
Andrews, Pife-shire (S. S. S. Vol. II, PI. X, fig. 6,) the arms of the 
‘ triskelis ’ forming more than a complete circle, and thereby giving an 
extremely oblique and peculiar form to the figure, the revolution being 
to the left. 
The- ‘triskelis’ occurs also prominently on the Kildalton, cross, 
Argyleshire, (S. S. S. Vol. II, PI. XXXVI,) in company with much 
solar and symbolical ornamentation. 
7. Triskelis, revolving from left to right. Fig. 132. 
In this symbol the limbs are shortened till they resemble the cogs 
in the driving wheel of a tilt-hammer. 
The ‘ triskelis ’ so far as I am aware does not occur on any of the 
