The usual algebraic construction used to study the symmetries of an object is the group of automorphisms of that object. In many geometric settings, however, one may interpret the symmetries in a more intimate manner by an algebraic structure on the object itself. Define a quandle to be a set equipped with two binary operations, (x,y) ↦ x ▷ y and (x, y) ↦ x ▷-1 y, which satisfies the axioms Q1. x ▷ x = x. Q2. (x ▷ y) ▷-1 y = x = (x ▷-1 y) ▷ y. Q3. (x ▷ y) ▷ z = (x ▷ z) ▷ (y ▷ z). Call the map S(y) sending x to x ▷ y the symmetry at y. To each point y of a symmetric space there is a symmetry S(y), the symmetric space becomes a quandle. Call a quandle satisfying x ▷ y = x ▷-1 y an involutory quandle. Loos [1] has defined a symmetric space as a manifold with an involutory quandle structure such that each point y is an isolated fixed point of S(y). The underlying set of a group G along with the operations of conjugation, x ▷ y = y-1xy and x ▷-1 y = yxy-1 form a quandle Conj G. Moreover, the theory of conjugation may be regarded as the theory of quandles in the sense that any equation in ▷ and ▷-1 holding in Conj G for all the groups G also holds in any quandle. If the center of G is trivial, then Conj G determines G. Let G be a group and n ≥ 2. The n-core of G is the set {(x1,x2,...,xn) ∈ Gn | x1x2...xn = 1} along with the operation (x1,x2,...,xn) ▷(y1,y2,...,yn) = (yn-1xny1-1xM1y2,...,yn-1-1xn-1yn). The n-core is an n-quandle, that is, each symmetry has order dividing n. The group G is simple if and only if its n-core is a simple quandle. Let G be a noncyclic simple group and Q a nontrivial conjugacy class in H viewed as a subquandle of Conj G. Then Q is a simple quandle. Let Q be a quandle. The transvection group of Q, TransQ, is the automorphism group of Q generated by automorphisms of the form S(x)S(y)-1 for x, y in Q. Suppose Q is a simple p-quandle where p is prime. Then either TransQ is a simple group, or else Q is the p-core of a simple group G and TransQ = Gp. Consider the category of pairs of topological spaces (X,K), K ⊆ X, where a map f : (X,K) → (Y,L) is a continuous map f : X → Y such that f-1(L) = K. Let (D,O) be the closed unit disk paired with the origin O. Call a map from (D,O) to (X,K) a noose in X about K. The homotopy classes of nooses in X about K form the fundamental quandle Q(X,K). The inclusion of the unit circle to the boundary of D gives a natural transfromation from Q(X,K) to the fundamental group π1(X - K). A statement analogous to the Seifert-Van Kampen theorem for the fundamental group holds for the fundamental quandle. Let K be an oriented knot in the 3-sphere X. Define the knot quandle Q(K) to be the subquandle of Q(X,K) consisting of nooses linking once with K. Then Q(K) is a classifying invariant of tame knots, that is, if Q(K) = Q(K′), then K is equivalent to K′. The knot group and the Alexander invariant can be computed from Q(K). [1] Loos, O., Symmetric Spaces, Benjamin, New York, 1969.