Three hares

German: Dreihasenfenster, lit. 'Window of Three Hares' in Paderborn Cathedral

The three hares (or three rabbits) is a circular motif appearing in sacred sites from East Asia, the Middle East and the churches of Devon, England (as the "Tinners' Rabbits"),[1] and historical synagogues in Europe.[2][better source needed] It is used as an architectural ornament, a religious symbol, and in other modern works of art[3][4] or a logo for adornment (including tattoos),[5] jewelry, and a coat of arms on an escutcheon.[6][7] It is viewed as a puzzle, a visual challenge, and has been rendered as sculpture, drawing, and painting.

The symbol features three hares or rabbits chasing each other in a circle. Like the triskelion,[8] the triquetra, and their antecedents (e.g., the triple spiral), the symbol of the three hares has a threefold rotational symmetry. Each of the ears is shared by two hares, so that only three ears are shown. Although its meaning is apparently not explained in contemporary written sources from any of the medieval cultures where it is found, it is thought to have a range of symbolic or mystical associations with fertility and the lunar cycle. When used in Christian churches, it is presumed to be a symbol of the Trinity. Its origins and original significance are uncertain, as are the reasons why it appears in such diverse locations.[1]

  1. ^ a b Chapman, Chris (2004). "The Three Hares Project". Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  2. ^ Wonnenberg, Felice Naomi. "How do the rabbits get into the synagogue? From China via Middle East and Germany to Galizia: On the tracks of the ROTATING RABBITS SYMBOL". googlepages.com. Archived from the original on 8 September 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
  3. ^ "Miniature sculptures of Tinners' Rabbits, ca. 1300)". Finestoneminiatures.com. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
  4. ^ "Tinner's Rabbits sculpture, Art that Matters". Artmatters.org.uk. Archived from the original on 3 July 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  5. ^ Celtic knot Tattoo: border encircling Triple knotwork Hares by "WildSpiritWolf".
  6. ^ The "three hares motif from a window of the Paderborn cathedral cloister (Unity and Trinity as a symbol of the Trinity, the central mystery of faith of the Catholic Church and the whole of Christendom)". Coat of Arms, Bishop Paul-Werner Scheele, Bischof von Würzburg 1979–2003. See Ecclesiastical heraldry.
  7. ^ Summer, Thomas (17 March 2013). "Three Hares Window: I visited the 1200 year old University and Cathedral city of Paderborn, the second largest but most beautiful city in the East Westphalia-Lippe region" (video). Thomas Summer Production/YouTube. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Widecombe was invoked but never defined (see the help page).