What Is the Meaning of a Triple Trinity Ring?

A triple trinity ring is a piece of jewelry (typically a necklace or ring) that is made of three entwined rings. No two rings are linked, so if one of the three rings is removed, the other two will no longer be connected.

Religious Connotations

That the rings are impossible to separate traditionally has represented the strength in unity.  The word "trinity" is derived from the Latin word "trinitas," which means "three are one." They also are a symbol of an individual’s unbroken faith. In Christianity, the three rings represent the Holy Trinity (the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost).

Significance

The meaning of a triple trinity ring is similar to that of a trinity knot or "triquetra." The shape of the interlocking pieces of the trinity ring form the shape of a trinity knot. The difference is a trinity knot is made of one continuous line, while a trinity ring is composed of three separate circles. The triple trinity ring and trinity knot are a part of Celtic culture and are often used in engagement or wedding bands. 

Origin

Triple trinity rings are also known as Borromean rings. The name comes from the Borromeo family, an Italian family whose crest has depicted the rings since the 15th century. Although the rings were not popularized until the Borromeo family introduced them to their coat of arms, there are earlier records of the rings. The rings are present in a 13th century manuscript depicting the Christian Trinity. They also have appeared in seventh century Norse image stones.

Cultural References

These rings are often associated with science, in particular geometry. In science classrooms, they are commonly known as Venn Diagrams. In some parts of the United States, this configuration of rings is also known as Ballantine rings. This name comes from the Ballantine Brewery, which uses the rings in its company beer logo. Psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan modeled his topology of the human mind after the rings. Each of the three rings in his topology represent a part of reality: The real, the imaginary and the symbolic.

Fun Fact

It’s impossible for Borromean rings to be formed from geometrically round circles. You can use ellipses that have very small variances from a perfect circle, but they cannot be a perfectly round circle.

References

• Basic Graph Theory: Borromean Links
• Ireland Fun Facts: Trinity Knot Wedding Rings: Their Meaning And History
• Encylopedia of Science: Borromean Rings