Noo, I did perceive that you didn't support the idea that the 'Hares' have anything to do with Goddess worship... But that connection was mentioned in one of your posts... Maybe I should have stated that more clearly...
This is not a subject that I've researched - nowhere nearly as thoroughly as you have, but I have read [several sources] that the moon is frequently associated with a 'hare' or rabbit, as opposed to a 'man-in-the-moon'...
Segueing from that point to the fact that there are many connections in many cultures between the moon - worship of the moon, and Goddess worship - not just "Eostre", but other Goddesses as well - I still suspect a 'Goddess-worship' connection between the three hares' symbol and said Goddess worship... Especially when one takes into account that 'Triple Goddesses' were actually the first "Divine Trinity" worshipped, in the Middle East and many other locations beside Gaelic lands.
BTW, there is a rather common blue-bell-like flower that grows here in Colorado that is called "hare-bells". The origin of the flowers' folk-name is interesting. It seems that the 'hare-bell' was originally named in Scotland, where the locals believed it had to do with witchcraft. It was called 'hare-bell' because hares were considered to be the consorts of witches...
If I had more TIME I'd look into that further... I'm curious as to why - what time period - the hares were considered to be witches' "familiars" instead of cats... I suspect that would be prior to the introduction of domestic cats into Scotland. Which is puzzling, because Scotland has a native wildcat that is very similar to domestic cats...
I am VERY impressed with all the research you're doing on this subject. What started your interest in it??
Zid 
