Neptune inspired the trident on the Maserati emblem.
The Maserati brothers chose the trident after the Fountain of Neptune in Bologna, Italy. The fountain’s statue of Neptune holds a trident, and the symbol offered a strong connection to the city where the company was founded.
The design was suggested by Mario Maserati, one of the brothers, while the emblem’s red and blue colors were associated with Bologna. The trident also conveyed ideas of strength and authority, making it suitable for a performance-car marque.
Maserati was founded in Bologna in 1914 by Alfieri Maserati and his brothers. The company later moved its headquarters to Modena, but the Neptune reference remained central to its identity. The emblem is sometimes confused with a generic maritime symbol, yet its specific source is Bologna’s Neptune fountain.