A trident is a three-pronged spear that is also known as a leister or gig. It was once a military weapon and is now used for spearfishing. Numerous tridents can be found throughout historical, mythical, and contemporary culture.
A trident is not a pitchfork, please note. An agricultural implement known as a pitchfork has two to six tines, which are often referred to as prongs, and is fashioned such that it can be used to lift and pitch (throw) loose material.
The Latin tridens or tridentis, from tri “three” and dentes “tooth,” is where the English term “trident” is derived. Trishula, a word that means “triple spear” in several Indian languages and is derived from Sanskrit, is used to describe tridents.
Fishing: Typically, fishing spears contain thorny tines that tightly imprison the fish being speared. Suckers, bullfrogs, flounders, and several species of rough fish are all harvested through gigging in the Southern and Midwestern United States.
Military use: The trident was a treasured weapon because of its great reach and capacity to trap other long weapons between its prongs, disarming whoever was holding them. Tridents were notably utilized by a class of gladiator known as a retiarius or “net fighter” in Ancient Rome in a parody of fishing. The retiarius, who was typically matched up against a secutor, would cast a net to encircle his opponent before killing him with a trident.
The trident of the U.S. Navy Special Warfare insignia worn by U.S. Navy SEALs symbolizes the three facets (Sea, Air, and Land) of SEAL special operations.
The United States Naval Academy’s crest is golden and features a trident going vertically in the backdrop.
Use as a symbol: Similar to its history in fishing, the trident is linked to three different gods: the Roman god Neptune, the Hindu god Shiva, and Poseidon, the Greek sea god. According to Greek myth, Poseidon created the horse and Greece’s water sources with the help of his trident (by striking a camel).
Poseidon was a sea god who was also referred to as the “Earth Shaker.” He unleashed powerful earthquakes when he pounded the ground in rage, and he sparked sea storms, tsunamis, and tidal waves with his trident. Neptune also used a trident to generate new bodies of water and earthquakes in Roman mythology. Neptune and Triton by Gian Bernini is a good illustration of this.
Trident of Santa Monica: In 2010, Detective Goodwin and Sergeant Jacob designed a logo to be used to represent the Santa Monica Police Department with assistance from and input from numerous other officers and supervisors. All police officers, both sworn and civilian, should be able to access the logo, which is meant to show pride in the department. Since then, the SMPOA Charity Fund, also known as the Survivor’s Fund, which was established in memory of deceased SMPD Officer Rick Crocker, has adopted it as its emblem.
The logo features a number of elements that are emblematic of the SMPD and the City of Santa Monica:
- The general layout, or beat map, of the city as seen from the dispatch monitors, the watch commander’s office, etc., is where the diamond form originates.
- To all U.S. law enforcement organizations, the letters STM serve as the department’s JDIC computer identity.
- The SMPD was established in the year 1896.
- The SMPD insignia and uniform patch are represented by the colors blue and gold. The blue backdrop and “Mariner” font also allude to our proximity to the sea.
- The Trident is a nautical emblem. It might be interpreted as a sign of power and strength. Additionally, we think that Trident’s workforce reflects the neighborhood we work in. The cornerstone of public confidence in law enforcement is represented by the left point, which stands for honor, the center point for honesty, and the right point for respect.
All sales revenue from products with this emblem on them directly benefits the SMPOA Charity Fund. When a police officer dies tragically, the charity helps the family by providing transportation, and funeral services, and addressing the particular needs of the survivors. All California police officer families who lost loved ones while performing community service get donations from the foundation.
