Six-pointed star: meaning. Symbols of Judaism

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

At all times, people paid special attention to symbols. And it is not so important whether the conversation is about religion, the occult or ordinary hobbies. And the six-pointed star has always occupied a special place. The meaning of this symbol cannot be determined unambiguously. In a wide variety of cultures, it is interpreted differently.

In general, the star has been an important symbol since ancient times, since its image was prompted by nature itself. A person is inevitably drawn to the sky, so she was compared by people with superiority, strength, constancy and protection. Flickering and bright overflows indicated hope, dream and miracle, which also had a positive effect on the attitude towards the corresponding symbolism. The six-pointed star in different cultures has received its own special definition. But one thing is for sure: there were no such civilizations that would not pay attention to it.

Origin of the Star of David

There is no doubt that the Star of David belongs to the Jewish culture, since it was first discovered in the 7th century. BC e. in Sidon. The seal on which it was located belonged to a certain Jew, Joshua ben Yeshayahu. Then the symbol had no other definitions, its name sounded like this: a six-pointed star. A photo of that seal has survived to this day.days. Later, the symbol received a different name - "Magendavid", as well as the well-known in modern times - "Star of David". This happened in the early Middle Ages, when the first sources with legends about King David appeared. It was believed that a shield with such a symbol protected the commander and his army in battles, so all of them brought only victories.

Speaking about what the Star of David means, one should not miss another version of the origin of the name. It describes how a certain David Alroy, who considered himself the messiah, led an army to Jerusalem to return the city conquered by the Crusaders. It was believed that he was a mystic and a sorcerer, moreover, quite vain, which is why he named the star after himself.

From the thirteenth century the star becomes more popular, it appears on the walls of synagogues, on amulets or in books with Kabbalistic texts. Most historians and researchers believe that the symbol was then only a decoration; it acquired its specificity a little later, in 1354. At that time, the Roman emperor granted the Jews a special privilege, they became the owners of their own red flag, which was decorated with the Star of David. Since then, all references to this symbol have been oriented in most cases to Jewish and Jewish cultures.

Understanding the six pointed star

The "six-pointed star" symbol is usually depicted in the form of equilateral triangles superimposed on each other so that their vertices look one up and the other down. Also, these figures have one center. In some culturesthe symbol is corrected in accordance with the beliefs that are observed within society. However, most often this image is attributed to Judaism, since the star has the widest distribution only among Jews.

At one time this symbol intersected in history with the fascist swastika. You can give more than one example where this symbol is viewed in a positive way, but this will not affect people's opinion, because for a long period of time the hexagram was in the same ranks with Nazism.

In fact, the most common understanding of the symbol is wrong. Speaking about what the star of David means, they usually mention Judaism and its presence in this religion. Today Magendavid means freedom, and there is an explanation for this. There are several opinions about when exactly the hexagram began to personify the Jews, but they all have approximately the same ending.

In the 5th-6th century there lived King David, whose people were under oppression. On the fields in battles with enemies, the Jews often lost, because they could not resist the onslaught of the most powerful warrior - Goliath. But David, picking up a shield with the image of a hexagram, nevertheless defeated him. As a result, the Jews received freedom from enemy oppression.

Later (in the 13th century), the Jews again intersect with the hexagram. Now, for services to the empire, the Roman emperor Charles favors the people with a flag with the image of Magendavid, only then it was scarlet (in modern times it is blue). And again, getting a star is associated with freedom.

And finally in 18th century Europe,which was at that time a developed region and played an important role in the activities of mankind, accepts the six-pointed star as a symbol of the Jewish people. Thus, in this case, the understanding of Magendavid is invariably associated with the freedom of the Jews.

How did the Star of David appear on the flag of Israel?

When there is a conversation about which flag has a six-pointed star, Israel is always mentioned. Some other countries throughout the history of mankind have also assigned this symbol to their family, but in fact it took root in this interpretation only in Judaism. There are several theories as to how the hexagram appeared on the flag of Israel.

According to one version, this symbol was borrowed in ancient Egypt. The Egyptian pharaohs had Jews for a long time in slavery, until the prophet Moses came and became their liberator. In the occultism of that ancient civilization, the six-pointed star occupied a special position, it was used in the inscription of signs associated with deities. Quite a true story, except for the fact that its most common name is the "star of David." And here the name given to the symbol does not appear.

Another version is that a certain David was the liberator of the Jewish state, and in his military campaigns for the liberation he always advanced, carrying a shield in the form of a six-pointed star in his hand (according to other sources, this symbol was painted on the shield). After the defeat of stronger troops, outside observers hadthe impression that it was the shield of David that caused the liberation of the state.

It should be noted that the symbols of Judaism did not immediately begin to include a six-pointed star. It is likely that the Israelis are closer not to the philosophical or religious component of the hexagram, but to the decorative one.

Riddles

The symbol in question is from the 7th century BC. e. excites the minds of historians, occultists and culturologists. And all because it appears in many written sources, on rock paintings, seals, coats of arms and other similar elements. This means that almost every civilization that has ever existed on the planet has consistently shown its interest in this symbol. What is his mystery?

Not a single culturologist has come close to this issue so far, all the new facts related to the six-pointed star reveal even more unsolved mysteries. On the one hand, there is a lot of historical data or information from mythology, where the Star of David plays only a positive role. For example, Solomon wore a ring with a seal of the corresponding image. With his help, he called on spirits that helped him in all good undertakings.

Or the story of David himself, in which he defeats Goliath not without the help of a shield with the image of a hexagram. Since then, this Jewish commander has become not only a hero of an entire nation, but also a liberator. Despite the fact that more than one hundred years have passed since that moment, all Jews still honor the symbol as a protector from demons,carry amulets and talismans with such an image.

But there are absolutely opposite stories connected with the hexagram. It often appears along with the fascist swastika, so many people have a negative attitude towards it. In fact, her participation in the historical events of that terrible time was very limited. Experiments were carried out on people in concentration camps, and after certain experiments, some were marked. This was done by depicting a yellow hexagram on the subject's forehead. This state of affairs allowed the Nazis to distinguish those who had already been experimented on from "pure" people.

Consequently, wherever the six-pointed star appears, its value is always either positive or negative. It occupies the golden mean only as a symbol in some cultures, and then only because it is not the hexagram as a whole that is considered, but its individual images (for example, lines of triangles).

Mystic

In magic and the occult, as far as modern history knows, a six-pointed star has always been present. Its value is great not only for rituals, but also for the creation of amulets, talismans, amulets, spell books, and so on. In magic, the three sides of the triangles personified matter, spirit and the middle nature (the same as in science - space). Thus, it is possible to divide the value into three components:

1. Mind or consciousness, the element that is responsible for the creation of energy.
2. Matter (middle nature, space). The occultists viewed matter as somethingcosmic substance, which is harmoniously distributed throughout the universe. Therefore, this element was responsible for the safety of everything that ever existed.
3. Physical matter. Since it is quite dense, it ceases to transmit the light of the sun, gradually becoming darkness. Therefore, the element in question is responsible for the destruction of energy.

Based on the above, we can conclude that the six-pointed star occupied a special place not only in some religions, but also in magical teachings that have not lost popularity until today. Thanks to this symbol, any event could be explained. Magic amulets with the image of the hexagram revealed the future, past and present to the occultists.

Charms

The six-pointed star at all times personified a powerful defense, virtually impenetrable. Therefore, until today, it is often used to create amulets and amulets. Since the Middle Ages, hexagram talismans have been considered powerful defenders against bladed weapons, as David defeated Goliath using a shield with her image.

Later, the amulets acquired additional meanings. It was believed that they protected from fire and sudden attacks from the enemy. Over time, this property has lost its significance, but another has appeared. Closer to the 16th century, the six-pointed Star of David on talismans was used to protect against evil spirits.

One way or another, any material object has its own energy, which can serve both for evil andfor the benefit of. However, there are also signs and symbols that have not only been tested by time, but have also gained the generally accepted status of helpers. This is exactly what Magendavid is, because for thousands of years all nationalities and cultures have been interested in him.

Why is the six-pointed star in Christianity perceived as a symbol of evil spirits?

The symbol "star of David" in Orthodoxy does not have a very good reputation. The fact is that the hexagram has since ancient times been considered a symbol of Judaism, a religion that Christians perceive negatively.

But there is another explanation for the bad attitude towards her. The fact is that in Judaism the specific meaning of the star is that only 6 days have passed (6 ends of the figure), and the messiah comes on the seventh. In the Christian faith, Jesus has already visited the earth, so the seventh day has arrived. In Judaism, it is only expected. Consequently, Christians perceive the symbol as irrelevant.

Symbols of religion, and any, you need to read. Therefore, it cannot be said unequivocally that all Orthodox have a negative attitude towards the six-pointed star. Moreover, many confessors have even given up giving it the meaning of the number of the beast.

Six-pointed star - evil or good?

Many cultures have never had a negative attitude towards such a symbol as the Star of David. Photos depicting this figure, described in a negative way, are found only in eschatological interpretations. This religious doctrine compares the symbol to the number of the beast. It has 6 corners, 6 small triangles and 6 sides inside a hexagon.

Indians andit is yoga and tantra that compare the symbol with the human chakra, located at the level of the heart. She is responsible for love, compassion and devotion. The direction of the triangle down means the sky, up - the earth. Accordingly, the six-pointed star is oriented precisely towards the universe in this case. The meaning of the symbol expresses the essence of a person who constantly rushes between spirituality and carnal components.

When the first alchemists appeared, they also became interested in the hexagram, and depicted with its help the philosopher's stone, which gives eternal life. Freemasons compared the symbol with great wisdom, which, in fact, they aspired to. One way or another, each current compared the six-pointed star with something of its own.

Meaning across cultures

The six-pointed star has more than just an esoteric or religious meaning. Many civilizations have used it in various fields just because it looks beautiful. So, for example, from the fourteenth century it was used as a reward for special merits. Moreover, some modern military units still present the Star of David as a sign of special honor.

But, of course, one cannot exclude the religious or occult component that the six-pointed star possesses. Its significance in the Christian faith cannot be called unambiguous. On the one hand, the Orthodox do not like her, since the figure is 666 in terms of the number of angles, sides and triangles. On the other hand, it was the six-pointed star that pointed the way to the house where Jesus was born. Butthe generally accepted Orthodox opinion is focused on the fact that the Lord spent 6 days creating the world for people, and on the seventh he should come. Therefore, in early Christianity, this symbol was more significant than today, because the messiah was already descending to earth.

Oriental cultures also did not abandon this symbol. In Tibet, for example, it means the 6 syllables of the most important Buddhist prayer. Hindu culture does not consider the star as a whole, but only its triangles. They represent Kali and Shiva, or the destruction and creation of the world. Thus, Eastern traditions perceive the hexagram as a symbol of balance, the inevitable and constant struggle between good and evil on the planet and/or in one particular person.

Magendavid is also found in Freemasonry, but members of this society prefer the pentagram - the seal of Solomon. It is believed that Solomon was the son of David, and if you remove any small triangle from the image of the hexagram, you get a five-pointed star. Therefore, Masons are still connected with Magendavid, but indirectly, revering him as the father of Solomon, the holder of the ring with a five-pointed star, whom he commanded spirits and ghosts.

Theosophical interpretation is focused solely on the perfection of the universe, as well as in the occult. Two triangles (2 is the number of a woman), three faces and angles in each (3 is the number of a man) allow idealizing not only the universe, but also the symbol itself, which explains its high value.

A six-pointed star in a circle appeared almost immediately after the usual Magendavid. However, its greatest distribution isreceived only in astrology. This is how all the signs of the zodiac were depicted within the framework of one specific symbol.

In general, it is impossible to say exactly where and when the Star of David was found in history, since every culture necessarily used it in scriptures, on amulets or engraved on buildings.

The image of the symbol in different cultures

Quite often different symbols of religion are essentially the same, but are depicted differently. So, for example, Kabbalists draw a hexagram in the form of two black and white triangles. They represent spirit and matter. And the meaning of individual lines or a hexagon formed in the center is missing.

Even in the culture of Kabbalists there is a similar symbol - a six-pointed star is drawn in the form of a snake that swallows its tail. The image is inside the circle. In this case, the symbol represents the three deities and the eternity of their reign. Kabbalists in the West cut off the tops of the triangle, and they look like Egyptian pyramids.

In Jewish culture, the image of the hexagram is perfect, here the triangles look up and down, with one center uniting them. There are no additional shades or intersections, together they represent a complete picture. There are also no definite interpretations of individual lines, except that the star of David is a symbol of the Jews. A photo with an image of the Jewish hexagram can be seen on the flag of Israel. By the way, despite the fact that the star originally accompanied the Jewish culture, it is a generally accepted sign of the Jewsbecame only in the eighteenth century, earlier Europe did not consider it as a symbol of one particular state.

Summarize the way the six-pointed star is depicted and its meaning in different cultures in the table below.

Use of hexagram in different cultures

Culture/religion	How the symbol was depicted	Meaning
Judaism	Standard picture	Symbol of freedom
Kabbalah	A snake that bites its own tail. The image was placed in a circle	The symbol of the eternal struggle within a person between light and darkness, spiritual and material values
Eschatology	The beast inside the star	Symbol of Lucifer, number 666
Occultism	Two intertwining triangles	Symbol of the perfect universe
Alchemy	Here, first of all, the pentagon formed in the center was considered. It became the symbol of the Philosopher's Stone	Symbol of immortality
Astrology	Hexagram in a circle	Zodiac symbol
Early Christianity	Standard picture	Christmas symbol
Masonry	Standard picture	Symbol of Wisdom

Thus, it is impossible to say exactly what the six-pointed star means. In most cultures, she is a good symbol, personifying deities, feminine or masculine, matter and spirit. Butthere are also negative interpretations of the hexagram, such as the number of the beast. If we give the most common definition, then the Star of David has always been a symbol of freedom, since once upon a time the Roman emperor laid the foundation for the liberation of the Jewish people, giving her his own flag with Magendavid.