Chapter Thomas the Rhymer to Three of T by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Subordinate. The orders of Angels are three times three, viz.: (1) Seraphim, (2) Cherubim, (3) Thrones, (4) Dominions, (5) Virtues, (6) Powers, (7) Principalities, (8) Archangels, (9) Angels.—Dionysius the Areopagite.

In heaven above
The effulgent bands in triple circles move.
   —Tasso: Jerusalem Delivered, xi. 13 (1575).

The Cities of Refuge were three on each side the Jordan.

The F ates are three: Clotho (with her distaff, presides at birth), Lachesis (spins the thread of life), Atropos (cuts the thread).

The Furies are three: Tisiponê, Alecto, Megæra.

The Graces are three: Euphrosynê (cheerfulness of mind), Aglaia (mirth), Thali (good-tempered jest).

The Judges of Hades are three: Minos (the chief baron), Æacus (the judge of Europeans), Rhadamanthus (the judge of Asiatics and Africans).

The Muses are three times three.

Jupiter’s thunder is three-forked (trifidum); Neptun e’s trident has three prongs; Pluto’s dog Cerberus has three heads. The rivers of hell are three times three, and Styx flows round it thrice three times.

In Scandinavian mythology, there are three times three earths; three times three worlds in Niflheim; three times three regions under the dominion of Hel.

According to a mediæval tradition, the heavens are three times three, viz. the Moon, Venus, Mercury, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the fixed stars, and the primum mobilê.

(2) Three a Symbolic Number.

(1) In the Tabernacle and the Jewish Temple.

The Temple consisted of three parts: the porch, the temple proper, and the holy of holies. It had three courts: the court of the priests, the court of the people, and the court of foreigners. The innermost court had three rows, and three windows in each row (1 Kings vi. 36; vii. 4).

Similarly, Ezekiel’s city had three gates on each side (Ezek. xlviii. 31). Cyrus left direction for the rebuilding of the temple: it was to be three score cubits in height, and three score cubits wide, and three rows of great stones were to be set up (Ezra vi. 3, 4). In like manner, the “new Jerusalem” is to have four times three foundations: (1) jasper, (2) sapphire, (3) chalcedony, (4) emerald, (5) sardonyx, (6) sardius, (7) chrysolyte, (8) beryl, (9) topaz, (10) chrysoprase, (11) jacinth, (12) amethyst. It is to have three gates fronting each cardinal quarter (Rev. xxi. 13–20).

(2) In the Temple Furniture: The golden candlestick had three branches on each side (Exod. xxv. 32); there were three bowls (ver. 33); the height of the altar was three cubits (Exod, xxvii. 1); there were three pillars for the hangings (ver. 14); Solomon’s molten sea was supported on oxen, three facing each cardinal point (1 Kings vii. 25).

(3) Sacrifices and Offerings: A meat offering consisted of three tenth deals of fine flour (Lev. xiv. 10); Hannah offered up three bullocks when Samuel was devoted to the temple (1 Sam. i. 24); three sorts of beasts—bullocks, rams, and lambs—were appointed for offerings (Numb. xxix.): the Jews were commanded to keep three national feasts yearly (Exod. xxiii. 14–17); in all criminal charges three witnesses were required (Deut. xvii. 6).