In the title compound, C(18)H(12)O(6)·4H(2)O, the 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexahydroxytriphenylene molecule is located on a twofold axis and two water molecules occupy general positions. The compound forms (4,4) two-dimensional nets via hydrogen bonds between neighbouring hexahydroxytriphenylene molecules, somewhat similar to the cyclopentanone solvates but distinctively different from the monohydrate form. Hydrogen bonds to water molecules connect these layers to form a complicated three-dimensional net, supported also by strong π-π stacking.