My Number #Number3★★★

Number 3

Meaning of Number 3

Number 3 is the number of good fortune.

The Pythagoreans taught that the number three was the first true number.

Three is the first number that forms a geometrical figure – the triangle.

Three was considered the number of harmony, wisdom and understanding.

Three is the number of time:

Past Present Future

Birth Life Death

Beginning Middle End

Three is the number of the divine.

Three is a sacred number in many religions.

In ritual many actions are preformed three times.

Three is the Number of Magic

We are all familiar with the expression “third time lucky”.

In fairy tales three is often the magical number.

Heroes and heroines are often offered three choices or three tests. They overcome difficulties on the third try.

Ethical Principles

In Zoroastrianism there are three ethical principles

 Humata

 Hukhta

Huveshta

to think good to speak good to act good

 

Muslim Divorce

Under Muslim law a man can divorce his wife by repeating the phrase “I divorce thee” three times.

Utopian City

Plato divided his Utopian city into three populations: Laborers – Guardians (warriors) – Philosophers (rulers)

The Borromeam Rings

The three Borromeam Rings are three rings that are interlocked.

If any single ring is removed, the two remaining rings will fall apart.

This has been used as a symbol of “strength in unity” for centuries in many parts of the world.

The symbol of the three rings that are interlocked is also known as “The Tripod of Life”. Christians may use “The Tripod of Life” to symbolize the Trinity; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Nobel Peace Prize

On the Nobel Peace Prize Medal there is engraved a picture of three naked men. The inscription reads: Pro pace et fraternitate gentium, translated ” For the peace and brotherhood of men”. The medal was designed by Gustav Vigeland.

Valknut

The symbol of three interlocked triangles is called Valknut.

It was used in Viking times as a symbol for the slain dead.

Valknut is associated with the Norse god Odin.

The Vikings believed Odin would protect the dead warriors who died in his name. They believed they would spend their afterlife in Valhalla belonging to Odin.

The name means “Knot of the Slain”.

Primary Colors

Only three primary colors are needed to mix most other colors; red, yellow and blue.  

Lies

According to Benjamin Disraeli (British Prime Minister, 1804-1881) there are three degrees of lies:   Lies – Damned Lies – Statistics

Anniversary

In the Western world, leather traditionally marks the third year anniversary.

The Triple Goddess

The Triple Moon/The Triple Goddess. It shows her three aspects as maiden, mother and crone. Often used by Wicca.

Astrology and the Tarot

 

Gemini is the third astrological sign of the Zodiac. (May 21 – June 21) Number three is the number of Jupiter.

Number three is lucky for Sagittarius.

In the Tarot, three is the card of the Empress.

The Empress stands for creation and growth. Reserved it warns of inaction.

The Shamrock

The Shamrock, the three-leaf clover, is a symbol of Ireland.

Saint Patrick taught Christianity in Ireland. He used the three-leaf cover to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity (The Father, Son and Holy Ghost) in Christianity.

Saint Patrick died March 17, 461.

March 17 is celebrated as his feast day and named Saint Patrick’s Day.

      The Leprechaun – Three Wishes In Irish Folklore there is a saying;

If you catch a Leprechaun and set him free, the Leprechaun will grant you three wishes.  

 

Petals of the Iris Flower

The iris flower was a symbol of power in ancient Egypt.

It was often placed on scepters of rulers and kings. The three large petals of the iris flower symbolize:  

Faith  – Wisdom  – Courage

The iris flower is named after the Greek messenger goddess, Iris. She was also seen as the rainbow. Iris flowers were planted on the graves of women.

The ancient Greeks believed that the goddess Iris would lead the dead women to the Underworld.

Picture from Botanical Magazine, 1792      

The Troika

The word “troika” is a Russian word for threesome, triplet or trio.

A Troika is three-horse harnessed sledge.

Troika is also the name of a traditional Russian dance. The dancers dance in groups of three.

A Troika also means a committee consisting of three members.

During the rule of Stalin, the Troika was used to speed up the prosecutions of people accused of political crimes.

In that meaning a Troika consisted of three judges and replaced the normal legal system.

Lithograph (1819) artist: Aleksander Orlowski. The Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia

Three Grains

An old superstition from Britain states that it is lucky to find three whole grains in a loaf of bread.

Another bread superstition says it if you take three loaves of bread out of the oven at one time, a death of someone you know will occur within a year.

Rosetta Stone

The Three Languages of the Rosetta Stone The Rosetta Stone contains inscriptions in three languages: Demotic (Egyptian), Hieroglyphic and Classical Greek.

The Rosetta Stone helped reveal the secrets of Hieroglyphic writing. It is on display at the British Museum in London.

Dead Kings

Three English Kings have died in battle. 1. Harold II – October 14,1066  2. Richard the Lionheart – April 6, 1199  3. Richard III – August 22, 1485

Third President

Thomas Jefferson was the third president of the United States. 1801 – 1809.

Jefferson was the principle author of the Declaration of Independence.

He owned many hundred slaves. Jefferson passed a law in 1807 to abolish slave trade.

He was strongly against the Bank of America saying that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies.  

Animals

The octopus has three hearts. Camels have three eyelids. Cats have a third eyelid. It is called the haw.