Trident
three-prong spear
A trident /ˈtraɪdənt/ is a three-pronged spear. It is used for spearfishing.[1] Historically it was used as a polearm. Gladiators used them in Ancient Rome after they cast a net to trap their opponent.[2] The trident is the weapon of Poseidon, or Neptune, the god of the sea in classical mythology.[3] In Hindu mythology it is the weapon of Shiva, known as trishula (Sanskrit for "triple-spear").[4] The word "trident" comes from the French word trident, which in turn comes from the Latin word tridens.[5]
Poseidon's trident
References
change- ↑ S.L. Hamilton, Spearfishing (Minneapolis, MN: Abdo Publishing, 2015), p. 8
- ↑ "What is a Trident?". wiseGEEK. Conjecture Corporation. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
- ↑ "Poseidon". GreekMythology.com. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
- ↑ "Shaivite Hindu Symbols: The Trishula". Western Hindu. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
- ↑ "trident". The Free Dictionary. Farlex. Retrieved 8 November 2016.