This is the meaning of the Maserati logo

There are few car brands with a logo that has its roots in Antiquity. That of Maserati refers to Neptune, the Roman god of the sea. Neptune is usually depicted with a beard and a trident. Thanks to this trident, which he had been given by the Cyclopes (one-eyed giants), he could master seas, rivers and lakes. In Bologna there is a large fountain over which Neptune towers, in the middle of the old city center on the square named Piazza Nettuno.

Maserati, Bologna and Modena

Bologna is also where the four brothers Alfieri, Ettore, Ernesto and Bindo Maserati founded a new company on December 1, 1914. SA Officine Alfieri Maserati was a fact on that day, located in the heart of the old university city.

It was not until 1940 that Maserati moved to Viale Ciro Menotti in Modena, where it is located to this day.

Maserati Type 26

In the first years, the Maserati brothers were forced to make mainly spark plugs and ignition coils. Building cars was impossible because of the outbreak of the First World War. After the war, they made Isotta Fraschini cars suitable for motorsport. It was not until 1926 that the first Maserati was ready, the Tipo 26. With Alfieri behind the wheel, this Maserati took part in the Targa Florio. He immediately won in the 1.5-litre class and finished ninth in the general classification.

Mario Maserati designs the logo

The Tipo 26 was already equipped with the well-known Maserati logo. The four Maserati brothers didn't have to search long for the design: they had another brother, who was not so interested in spark plugs and ignition coils. Mario Maserati was an artist. His source of inspiration for the logo was the Fontana di Nettuno, the giant fountain in Bologna.

Neptune has traditionally symbolized courage and strength - precisely the qualities with which the sporty Maserati wanted to be associated. The details of the Tridente have changed over the years: for example, the logo was given an oval background in 1994. In 2020, another small change took place: the red trident turned blue and the blue background on which the letters Maserati are written, became a bit darker. The new logo can be seen on the new Maserati MC20.

Trident in Ukraine

Maserati itself describes its logo as follows: "The Trident, which is inextricably linked to the company, underlines the exclusive character of the brand's cars and their identity as masterpieces of elegance, luxury and sporting performance."

Incidentally, the Trident is a very common symbol. You can also find it in the flag of Barbados and in the coat of arms of Ukraine. Also the planet Neptune is symbolized by a trident while in Hinduism the trident is one of the symbols of the highest god Shiva.