The trigonal cemí, or “three-pointer”, is the most iconic yet enigmatic of pre-Columbian Caribbean artefacts. Archaeological and ethnographic evidence indicates that these conical sculptures were of uniquely Antillean origin and part of a dynamic, adaptable denomination within the greater cemí belief system of the region. This art historical study catalogues the varied forms of the trigonal cemí and traces their development across the 1,500-year-long lifespan of an animist ritual tradition centred on the deified island environment of the Antilles. Although this work acknowledges and engages with several popular theories of the trigonal cemí’s significance, it presents evidence and analysis that establish the trigonal cemí as a living microcosm of the island, sacred topogram of “islandness”, and regional emblem of island identity.