What is the central symbol in the Maserati emblem?

The central symbol in the Maserati emblem is a trident.

Maserati adopted the trident in 1926, drawing inspiration from the Fountain of Neptune in Bologna, Italy. Neptune’s trident was a fitting symbol for the brothers’ automobile company because Neptune was associated with power and the city was their home. The design was suggested by family friend Marquis Diego de Sterlich.

The classic badge places the trident above the Maserati name, usually within a shield-like or oval composition. Red and blue became the marque’s traditional colors, reflecting Bologna’s civic colors. The trident is a mythological object, not a reference to a mechanical fork, three-cylinder engine, or three founders.

Maserati was founded by the Maserati brothers and became known for racing cars before building luxury road cars. The company’s emblem is therefore closely tied to Bologna and Roman mythology. Its three-pronged outline makes it one of the easier automotive symbols to identify, although it is occasionally mistaken for a spear or pitchfork.