Symbols are used to represent the concept of trinity. Like all symbols they can not be perfectly allegorical to the minute details.

These are the simplest of all such symbols. The idea is to represent that the two dimensions of space produces one closed surface with three sides. Each side of the triangle is a projection of the whole onto one dimension. The minimum number of straight lines required to seperate a Eucledian linear plane is three. A circle is also often incorporated in the symbol to represent unity.

The basic idea of these figures is the unity of God in its essence and the concept that each person is inseperably connected together in love. If one breaks, the entire structure will fall apart.

These three circles form the basis of these symbols. In the first figure they are interwoven and exhibits the special property that if any one circle is broken, the entire structure will fall apart.

This symbol is made up of three arcs of circles to form one continuos boundary. They are interwoven in this case so that they cannot be unentangled. The figure can also be derived without interweaving when it will actually straighten out into a circle..

There are other more complex and ancient trinitarian symbols such as these which are more expressive

Artists however had a tougher problem

Two artistic expressions of Trinity: European and Asian

Others who tried to express the trinity in the experiencial and redemptive work were more successful. One excellent example is the Trinity a stained glass window of David J Hetland's in Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead, Minnesota,