The Three Hares is a symbol consisting of three hares or rabbits chasing each other in a circular pattern. It is found in various cultures dating back to ancient China and in medieval churches in Europe.
It is thought to have symbolic meaning related to the Triple Goddess in pagan beliefs, or the Holy Trinity in Christianity. The symbol is also known as “The Tinners’ Rabbits” or “The Trinity Hares.”
Table of Contents
- How does the Three Hares Illusion work?
- Versions of the Three Hares Illusion
- Illusions like the Three Hares Illusion
- Discovery of the Three Hares Illusion
- References and Resources
- Sign up for emails from Mental Bomb
How does the Three Hares Illusion work?
The Three Hares design typically consists of three hares or rabbits arranged in a circular pattern, with each hare’s ears forming a part of the next hare’s ears.
The hares are depicted as if they are chasing each other in a never-ending cycle, with their ears forming a continuous loop.
The design is created by interlocking the ears of the hares in a specific way, so that the ears of each hare are visible on the next hare, forming a continuous loop.
The symbol is thought to have symbolic meaning related to the Triple Goddess in pagan beliefs, or the Holy Trinity in Christianity. It has also been suggested that it could be a symbol of rebirth, continuity, and the cycle of life.
Versions of the Three Hares Illusion
The following are some alternate versions of the Three Hares Illusion:
Illusions like the Three Hares Illusion
Ambiguous illusions are visual stimuli that can be interpreted in more than one way. These illusions typically consist of a single image that can be perceived in multiple ways. Ambiguous illusions can be used to study the neural mechanisms of perception and how the brain resolves ambiguity.
Some related illusions include the following:
A Möbius strip, named after the German mathematician August Möbius, is a one-sided non-orientable surface, which can be created by taking a rectangular strip of paper and giving it a half-twist, then joining the two ends of the strip together.
The Penrose triangle, also known as the Penrose tribar, is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.
The Penrose stairs, also known as the impossible staircase or the Penrose steps, is a two-dimensional representation of a staircase that appears to ascend or descend indefinitely, yet is physically impossible to climb or descend because the steps are not connected in a logical manner.
The Necker cube is an optical illusion that features a simple wireframe drawing of a cube. The cube appears to switch back and forth between two different orientations.
The Schröder Staircase is an optical illusion that features a drawing of a staircase. The staircase appears to be either ascending or descending, depending on how the brain interprets the angles of the lines.
The impossible cube is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.
The impossible trident is a three-pronged impossible shape resembling a trident. It is usually depicted as a three-pronged fork with each prong appearing to be a continuation of the next, creating an impossible shape.
The spinning dancer illusion is a visual illusion that depicts a silhouette of a dancer spinning clockwise or counterclockwise. The direction of the dancer’s spin can appear to change depending on the viewer’s perception
Discovery of the Three Hares Illusion
The origins of the Three Hares symbol are not well-documented, and the creators of the symbol are unknown.
The symbol has been found in various cultures and historical periods, dating back to ancient China, and in medieval churches in Europe.
It’s believed that the symbol may have originated in Asia and then spread to Europe via the Silk Road. It’s also possible that the symbol was independently created in different cultures, as the concept of three hares chasing each other in a circular pattern is a simple and intuitive image that could have been easily created by different cultures at different times.
There is no specific creator of the symbol that is known.
References and Resources
Check out our complete list of illusions.
Sign Up to Have Your Mind Blown