What do we know about the "Star of David"

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

The six-pointed star is associated with Israel today. However, this symbol was used in Hinduism 10 thousand years ago. And in ancient Egypt, this sign was a magical symbol of secret knowledge. Moreover, the "Star of David" can be found in Byzantine manuscripts about witchcraft, on the relics of Christian Templars and on the walls of German churches.

Everyone knows very well that the six-pointed star is called the Star of David, but do you know when this symbol began to symbolize the Jewish people? The image of the six-pointed star is found in synagogues and on Jewish graves, as well as on the flag of the State of Israel. But do you know when exactly this symbol appeared? Where did he come from? When does the first mention occur? Why is the six-pointed star depicted on Mamluk coins and is found in Islamic architecture? Below we will discuss the historical significance of the Star of David and when Israel appropriated this symbol to itself.

"Star of David" and its relation to the State of Israel

In Hebrew, the six-pointed star is called "Magen David", which literally translates as "the shield of David." The word "shield" refers to the ancient military armor, which the warriors used to protect themselves from cold and throwing weapons, including arrows, swords and stones. Professor Rashad Abdullah al-Shami told in his book "Religious Symbols in Judaism" that originally the word "magen" was used in relation to the Creator. In the Old Testament, it personifies the Creator, his greatness and power. According to al-Shami, at first this term appeared in words, and then it was presented in the form of a six-pointed star.

There are many theories about the origin of the six-pointed star, but there is no mention of this geometric sign either in the texts of the Old Testament or in the Talmud - the second most important book in Judaism, which is a set of legal and religious-ethical provisions.

In the Old Testament, "magen" was worn by the soldiers of King David, so historians probably associate the king himself with a six-pointed star. Nevertheless, the "Star of David" became the national symbol of the Jewish people only in the 19th century. Ash-Shami says in his book: "She became a symbol of the strength of the Kingdom of Israel during the reign of King David, who founded the Temple of Jerusalem and preserved the unity of the Israelite state founded by the prophet Samuel."

As for the six-pointed star, it is also known as the "seal of Solomon". She is considered a popular talisman that protects the owner from evil spirits.

The oldest Hebrew manuscript containing the complete Old Testament Bible and adorned with the Star of David was found in St. Petersburg. The manuscript was written around 1010 A. D. Another old manuscript, dated 1307 AD, was found in Toledo. It is called Tanakh.

The "Star of David" consists of two identical equilateral triangles superimposed on each other, the upper one with the top up, the lower one with the top down. This symbol was found in some Jewish temples built in the 3rd century AD. e. But it is also found in Roman temples and Christian churches. The term "Magen David" was first used in Eshkol ha-Kofer Karaim Yehuda Gadassi (XIV century).

The six-pointed star became a symbol of Judaism in the 14th century, when the Jewish community appeared in Prague. According to Rashad Abdullah ash-Shami, she was also associated with the prophet David from the 11th century to the 17th century, but she did not become a symbol of the Jewish people until the 16th century.

There is some evidence that Jews used the Star of David in the Middle Ages. In 1354 Charles IV granted the Prague Jews the right to use their own flag when they agreed to help him in the war against the King of Hungary. Stars were depicted on the Jewish flag so that they could be distinguished from enemies during battle. In 1648, Emperor Ferdinand III granted the Prague Jews the right to fly their flag while defending the city from the Swedes.

The Star of David appeared on the flag of the State of Israel on October 28, 1948. Recall that in 1879, Theodor Herzl, the leader of the Zionist movement, proposed using the six-pointed star as a symbol of the Jewish people.

It is worth noting that the "Star of David" was popular in Nazi Germany. All German Jewish citizens were required to wear the yellow Star of David on their clothes in a conspicuous place so that Germans could easily identify them

Before the symbol of the Jewish people, the six-pointed star was a "symbol of secret knowledge"

Before becoming a symbol of the Jewish people, the six-pointed star was a symbol of secret knowledge, including magic and witchcraft. The ancient Egyptians were the first to depict six-pointed stars on the walls of their temples. The symbol with a six-pointed star is directly related to the religion of the ancient Egyptians and was the first sign of the hieroglyph "Amsu".

The ancient Egyptians used this symbol to protect themselves from hidden worlds. He was also associated with the first man (Amsu-Gor) who became a god according to ancient texts. In addition, the Eye of Horus is one of the most famous symbols of Ancient Egypt, supposedly protecting from all evil.

There is no evidence that Israel adopted this symbol from the ancient Egyptians. Nevertheless, there is the following myth: when Moses was on Mount Sinai, he was so impressed by the Egyptian symbols that he decided to borrow them.

It should be noted that the ancient Egyptians were not the only ones to use the six-pointed star before it became the symbol of the Jewish people. This symbol is also present in Hinduism, where it is considered a symbol of balance. For example, water and fire, masculine and feminine. The Star of David was also used as an astrological symbol in Zoroastrianism.

"Star of Wisdom" and a symbol of fertility among the Sumerians and Canaan

In ancient India, the six-pointed star was a symbol of the union of a man and a woman. In the center of the hexagram the Hindu sign "OM" was depicted, uniting masculine and feminine principles. By the way, this symbol was used in Hinduism 10 thousand years ago.

Historians and other scholars believe that the symbol of the six-pointed star dates back to the Sumerian civilization, as its image was found on a clay tablet dating from the 4th century BC. e. She is currently in the Berlin Museum in Germany. Unfortunately, the belief that this symbol is associated with astrology and magic has left its mark. It was forbidden to be used in all Abrahamic religions.

We find this symbol in other ancient civilizations - among the Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Amorites, Canaanites and Phoenicians. The six-pointed star was a symbol of fertility, intercourse and the union of masculine and feminine principles.

The six-pointed star, consisting of two identical equilateral triangles superimposed on each other, in the Sumerian civilization meant the sacred union of the sky god "An" and the earth goddess "Ki". A triangle pointing down means feminine, and a top up - masculine. Sexual relationships were welcomed in ancient civilizations and were an integral part of various religious practices. For example, the worship of the goddess Ishtar in the area of the Fertile Crescent, the goddess Isis and the god Horus in Ancient Egypt, Adonis and the goddess Aphrodite in Ancient Greece, the goddess Venus and the god Bacchus in Ancient Rome.

It is worth noting that some historians believe that this symbol came to Judaism through Mesopotamia. The Jewish population was forcibly resettled to Babylonia from the Kingdom of Judah in 597 BC. e. Dr. Fadel al-Rabia writes in his book Haqiqa al-Sabi al-Babili that the Assyrian campaigns left the Jewish population scattered throughout the Arabian Peninsula.

Why is the six-pointed "Star of David" present in ornaments, Muslim and Christian religious texts?

Dr. Abdel Wahab al-Messiri, in his encyclopedia on Jews, Judaism and Zionism, writes that the "Star of David" is found in Hebrew texts. This symbol first appeared in a text dated back to the 7th century BC. e. Further, it is found on Jewish graves (III century BC), in the temple of Galilee, on Jewish tombs near Rome and on the walls of Jerusalem. And also the six-pointed star is found in decorative ornaments in various ancient civilizations.

According to al-Messiri, the six-pointed star at that time was nothing more than a decorative element. This symbol has been widely used and has not yet acquired secular or religious significance. Al-Messiri writes: “He is found in pubs in southern Germany. The followers of Pythagoras are said to have used the six-pointed star when begging for alms. With this sign, they marked the places where they managed to find rich and generous people. In addition, the symbol of the six-pointed star is found even in non-religious texts.

Al-Messiri writes that the Jews used the six-pointed star as a symbol of Judaism, just as Christians use the cross and Muslims use the crescent. But in fact, this did not happen before the Middle Ages. The "Star of David" appears in Hebrew texts as well as in Byzantine manuscripts related to witchcraft and on the relics of Christian Templars. We find this symbol in occult books and on the walls of German churches.

The six-pointed star, enclosed in a circle, is also associated with the Freemasons and is a symbol of Freemasonry, the largest secret society in the history, which has its own ideas about the universe, life and faith. This symbol originated in the 13th century in lodges created by Masons who were involved in the construction of castles and cathedrals in the Middle Ages. After the era of the construction of cathedrals ended, the secret society began to accept people who were not Masons into its ranks.

The Star of David is associated with all Abrahamic religions. We find her image in Islamic ornaments and Christian texts. What do we know about the meanings of the six-pointed star in these two religions?

The six-pointed star is a symbol of the Christian sect of Mormons. Mormons use it as a symbol for the 12 tribes of Israel. The Mormons themselves consider themselves their descendants, so they celebrate many Jewish holidays, including Hanukkah.

Recent research has shown that the six-pointed star entered the Islamic world through the Sinai Peninsula. She was very popular, and her image was even present on the fortress where the army of Salah ad-Din al-Ayyubi was located. This is how this symbol gained recognition in Islamic art and architecture. The six-pointed star is an ancient Egyptian symbol that first found its way into Coptic art and then into Islamic art. It should also not be forgotten that this symbol was an integral part of Ottoman ornaments.