Five-pointed star: the meaning of the symbol and the history of its origin. Five pointed star

Images of the five-pointed star can be found in all points of origin of the first civilizations - from Palestine to Japan. However, the first images of the symbol on clay were discovered in the ancient Sumerian city of Uruk. Their age is dated to approximately 3500 BC and is associated with the famous legend of Gilgamesh.

The five-pointed star is more than 5 thousand years old

There are several interpretations of the meaning of the five-pointed star. Among the ancient Pythagoreans, the pentagram or hygieia, as Pythagoras called it in honor of the Greek goddess of health Hygieia, represented mathematical perfection, later called the “golden ratio.”

In Christian Europe, the five-pointed star symbolized the five senses, five fingers. It was also used as a symbol of the five wounds of Christ, the five joys of Mary, which the perfection of her son Jesus brought her.

"Transfiguration". Andrei Rublev, 1405

In the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin there is a famous icon, which is attributed to the brush of Andrei Rublev, “The Transfiguration of the Lord.” The plot of this holiday, which is popularly called the Savior, is known to everyone. Jesus Christ with his three disciples, John, Peter and James, went to Mount Tabor, and there “His face shone like the sun, His raiment became white as light”. In Orthodox asceticism, this wonderful radiance is called the Light of Tabor. On the icon “Transfiguration of the Lord” it is depicted in the form of a five-pointed star, with its apex pointing down. Also (one cannot help but notice this) the number five - the number of rays of the star - corresponds to the number of figures depicted in addition to Jesus Christ: three apostles and two prophets, Moses and Elijah, who appeared to them.

The inverted pentagram is one of the main symbols of Satanists

It is known that a five-pointed star, upside down, is the favorite “sign” of Satanists. This passion for the symbol began with the suggestion of Eliphas Levi, a French occultist and tarot reader, who gave birth to a whole wave of myths and legends. In one of the images, Levi juxtaposed an inverted pentagram with the horned face of the goat Baphomet, a satanic deity. This is how the image of the enemy appeared.

The sign of Baphomet from the book “La Clef de la Magie Noire” by Stanislas de Guaita, 1897

And now let’s move from the world of Freemasonry, occultism and mysticism into the real world. In Russia, the five-pointed star appeared long before the 1917 revolution: under the influence of the French, Emperor Nicholas I introduced the symbol into the Russian army. On January 1, 1827, gold forged stars appeared on epaulettes, and on April 29, 1854, already sewn ones adorned the introduced shoulder straps.

After the October Revolution, the “star of Mars” became a symbol of the Red Army, which was supposed to isolate the country from its imperial past, preserve the power of the now new state, but express it in other ways. Similar processes occurred in Latin American countries: not only the red star, but also the rising sun, sickle and hammer can be found in Chile, Panama, and Brazil.

The pentagram was introduced into the Russian army by Emperor Nicholas I

Unfortunately, accurate, documented evidence of who was the author of the Red Army symbol has not been preserved. Some historians believe that the star was proposed by one of the commissars of the Moscow Military District N.A. Polyansky, others - that it was proposed by a member of the Military Collegium for the organization of the Red Army - K.S. Eremeev.

It is worth noting that the red five-pointed star became not only the emblem of the Red Army, but also a symbol of the entire Soviet state. Next to the hammer and sickle, it meant the unity of the working people of five continents with a single beginning and goal. The color red symbolized brotherhood and the blood shed for the freedom of workers around the world.

A five-pointed star with an eagle on a military train carriage. Photo by Victor Bulla. Russian Empire, 1905

The pentagram was also depicted on the official US flag, approved in 1777: 13 stars symbolized the 13 states - the founders of the new state. Currently, the flag of the United States holds the record for the number of five-pointed stars - there are a total of 50 such symbols on it.

The pentagram is widely used in the state symbols of many countries

New symbols on the towers of the Moscow Kremlin, October 1935

And finally, a few words about six-pointed, seven-pointed and eight-pointed stars. Let us immediately note that the number of ends of a star indicates the region of radiation that covers the light coming from the center. But let’s not delve into geometric symbolism; let’s go over the main points.

So, a six-pointed star. It is also sometimes called the “seal of Solomon.” This symbol was placed on the ring of the Jewish king, which gave him power over the jinn and the ability to speak with animals. The six-pointed star can be seen on the Israeli flag. Another example of a hexagram is the Star of Bethlehem, under which Jesus Christ was born.

In Christian connotation, the seven-pointed star is associated with the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. And if we take a more ancient interpretation, then with the sevenfold division of the cosmos into seven days, seven main planets, and so on.

"Savior is in power." Andrei Rublev, 1408

If we take the nine-pointed star, then in Russia it was most commonly used on icons of the Mother of God, where it was depicted three times: on the omophorion, that is, on the forehead, and on two shoulders. And this symbol denoted the power of the Mother of God over the nine ranks of angels of people and the underworld.

The octagram - an eight-pointed star - correlates with the figure of the Pantocrator, that is, the Almighty, or “Savior in Power,” where Jesus Christ is surrounded by angelic forces, which symbolize two squares superimposed on each other. Also, the octagram is a very common geometric symbol in Islam, which is used as an ornament in many Muslim palaces and mosques.

Five-pointed star in Orthodoxy - meaning and how to draw

One of the wonderful symbols is the five-pointed star, also called the pentagram or pentacle. It has a number of symbolic meanings in Orthodoxy.

Five-pointed star - meaning and how to draw in Orthodoxy

Some signs and symbols of various eras - for example, the image of a fish, by which some communities of the first Christians recognized each other - have sunk into oblivion. Others live on icons and books, in a living church tradition. There are many mysterious symbols in Orthodoxy. This is not surprising, because the teachings of Christ go back more than two thousand years. The culture and worldview of people changed. Only the word of God remained unchanged.

One such symbol is the five-pointed star, also called a pentagram or pentacle. Today it is associated, first of all, with the period of Soviet power in Russia. It can be seen on many European and Russian houses. Many claim that this is a satanic, witchcraft, Masonic sign. However, five-pointed stars can also be found on icons, icon cases, and in the decoration of Orthodox churches. It is not just a decoration, the pentagram has a number of meanings in Orthodoxy.

Pentacle in Christianity

A star with five rays is one of the ancient symbols. Initially, it does not carry the meaning of evil. Along with the six-pointed star of David and the eight-pointed star - the octogram, the star of the Virgin Mary is a biblical symbol. The five-pointed star refers to the symbolism of the Old Testament, which is still used today in both Christianity and Judaism.




The pentagram is associated with the Pentateuch, called the Torah in Judaism - the biblical books written by the prophet Moses. They are also revered by all Christians.




Also, the five rays of the star mean the five wounds of the Lord Jesus on the Cross (the hands and feet of the Savior were nailed to the Cross, the fifth wound is the wound from the spear).




The five ends mean, like the sign of the cross, the symbolism of the Trinity. The correct sign of the cross is made with the right hand, with the thumb, index and middle fingers clenched. They symbolize the power and omnipotence of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit - the Indivisible Holy Trinity. The little finger and ring finger pressed to the palm signify the joining together of the human and divine natures in Christ.




The association of the star and the Lord is based on the words of the Book of Revelation of John the Theologian (Apocalypse), where Christ says: “I am the descendant and root of David, the morning and bright star” (chapter 22, verse 16).

Where they draw and depict a five-pointed star in Orthodoxy

The symbol of a five-pointed star is not common, but can be used in the design of the exterior and interior of temples, and in the carving of icon cases (large floor frames for icons).

• The pentagram is used in the interior and exterior decoration of the walls of the Cathedral of the Nativity in Bethlehem.


• A forged five-pointed star is installed above the cross of the Bethlehem Temple, and at night it is illuminated.


• In the Bethlehem Cathedral of the Nativity itself, above the miraculous image of the Nativity, a golden five-pointed star is embroidered on velvet in an icon case.


• In the Church of St. John the Theologian in Moscow, five-pointed fiery stars are depicted on the walls of the temple.



The sign of the five-pointed star was theologically interpreted on the icon of the Transfiguration of the Lord, becoming a sign of the power of the Tabor light and the grace of Christ.




The five-pointed star, along with the eight-pointed one, denotes the Nativity or Bethlehem star. It is historically testified that at the time of the Birth of the Lord Jesus Christ there was a certain new star in the sky, a celestial phenomenon - perhaps a comet. However, it lit up in the sky as a sign of the coming into earthly life of the Messiah, Christ the Savior. The Star of Bethlehem, according to the Gospel, showed the way to the Magi, who, thanks to it, came to worship the Son of God and bring their gifts to Him. There is no sin in using it in home decoration for Christmas; on the contrary, it is a very pious and beautiful custom. You can make it yourself by gluing, for example, a paper icon of the Nativity of Christ in the center.

The star reminds us of the power of God, and of the radiance of the Kingdom of God, and of our life path, along which we must follow the Bethlehem guiding star, like the Magi towards the Infant Christ. You need to be able to become a guiding star for people in this world with the help of good deeds.

Pentagram on the icon of the Transfiguration

On the icons of the “Transfiguration of the Lord,” the most famous of which is the image painted by the great icon painter Andrei Rublev, the image of the Lord Jesus Christ is inscribed in a five-pointed star, meaning the light of the Transfiguration of the Almighty and His coming to the earthly world from Heaven. Therefore, on the icon of the Transfiguration, the five-pointed star is inverted with the upper ray downward.

Transfiguration is one of the twelve main holidays of the Orthodox Church. It is celebrated annually on August 19. In terms of its significance, it is on a par with the Nativity of Christ and the feast of the Holy Trinity - Pentecost. On this day, the event of Jesus Christ's revelation of His Divine nature to ordinary people - his disciples - is remembered. Three of them witnessed the Transfiguration of a seemingly ordinary Man, Whom they knew as Their Teacher named Jesus, into Almighty God, illuminating everything around with unearthly Light.

The holiday is celebrated in accordance with the word of the Gospel, where this great event is described in detail. Christ ascended Mount Tabor (which still exists in Israel) and before his three closest disciples - the apostles Peter, James and John - revealed His Divine nature, which appeared visibly in the fact that the Lord’s clothes became dazzlingly white, emitting light - the evangelist compares them with a shining under the sun and snow. His face shone with an unearthly light. The long-dead prophets Moses and Elijah appeared next to Christ, and the Lord began to talk with them. The apostles were in amazement, in modern terms - shocked by what they saw.

Prayers on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord are an appeal to the Lord for the enlightenment of every person with the Light of Christ's Truth, directing him on the right path. Each of us follows the path of life in a certain direction, making our choices every day and even every minute: what job to take, who to marry, when to have children... It is necessary to ask the Lord to prompt the right choice for our heart, the right path for our soul . This will be evidenced by inner peace and joy about the choice made.

The Feast of the Transfiguration is also called the Apple Savior - on this day Orthodox Christians bring part of the new harvest to churches, asking the Lord to bless and multiply the fruits of the earth. Of course, this holiday was especially important before the revolution, when the majority of the population were peasants working on the land. It is still widely celebrated today in Orthodox countries with a developed agrarian culture. Transfiguration is one of the most beloved holidays by the people. This is the day when each of us remembers that it is worth asking, praying - and our lives will be illuminated by the Light and advice of Christ. Do not neglect the conversation with the priest: the Lord, according to your faith, will tell you exactly His will through the priest.

May the Lord protect you with His grace!

What is a pentagram?

The modern word Pentagram apparently comes from the Greek " pente" - five and " gramma" - letter (meanings of “line or line” are also possible), its other names are also known, such as, for example, pentalfa and pentageron. In general, the pentagram has many names - almost every nation or magical tradition had its own name for it, or even several, for example, the Egyptians called it “ Star of Isis" or " Star of the Dog-Headed Anubis", and the Pythagoreans - " Pentalpha" Like a geometric figure - a pentagram, it is a star formed by the intersection of the extended sides of a pentagon (regular pentagon). A pentacle is a pentagram inscribed in a circle. Today, the pentagram is perhaps one of the most famous magical symbols. At the same time, it is one of the most ancient, significant and powerful.

History of the pentagram and its meanings

Unfortunately, it is now impossible to say for certain how exactly the pentagram symbol originated. The first reliable archaeological sites of symbols having pentagonal symmetry, date back to the first ten thousand years BC, but it is possible that the pentagram existed earlier. One of the possible versions is that it appeared as a result of astrological observations of the planet Venus and began to be used by the priests and magicians of Mesopotamia. The fact is that when observed from the earth, Venus passes through all the signs of the zodiac in the sky in 8 years, while making 5 “curls” of the trajectory. If you draw a classic astrological circle with the signs of the zodiac, mark these “curls” on it and connect them, you will get a clear pentagram.

One way or another, with the advent of written sources, we can say more about the meaning of this symbol. In ancient civilizations (Sumerian, Ancient Egyptian, Babylonian, Assyrian, etc.) the pentagram had a dual meaning. Firstly, it was considered the strongest symbol of help and protection, which was depicted on amulets, house doors (to protect the home from various harms), clothing and religious objects. Secondly, for initiates it was a symbol of secret power and might. We can say that it was a symbol of magic itself in a broad sense in those days. Also in ancient Egyptian writing there was a hieroglyph in the shape of a five-pointed star. There are opinions that it meant “enlightenment, learning” or “enlightened, blissful spirit” (however, there are other interpretations).

After this, the pentagram was widely used in various spheres of human life - in addition to all of the above, it could be found on state symbols, seals and coins, it was used as an element of coats of arms and banners, and depicted on shields. The pentagram begins independently of each other use different peoples - for example, it appears in India and China. To describe all the meanings that have ever been given to the pentagram, it is necessary to write a separate huge work (if at all possible), in this article we will outline only the main milestones of its history.

In Ancient Greece, the pentagram was also called " pentalpha", since it was obtained by intertwining five Greek letters " alpha" The pentagram played an important role in the teachings of Pythagoras. He calculated that it contained the golden ratio and therefore came to the conclusion that it was the geometric embodiment of mathematical perfection. Subsequently, it will become an important symbol for his followers. The Pythagoreans called the pentagram Hygieia (also the name of the ancient Greek goddess of health) when they used it as a symbol of bodily-spiritual harmony and perfection. At the same time, they used it as a symbol of their community, which also symbolized the five years of silence before initiation. The Pythagorean school, perhaps, was the first to present, now a classic, the concept that the world consists of five elements - fire, earth, water, air and ether (although Empedocles is considered the first to develop the concept of elements). Based on it, the pentagram, on the rays of which these five elements are located, is a symbol of the universe in a state of perfection and harmony. Subsequently, this interpretation will be reflected in Hermeticism and alchemy. The pentagram was also used by the Pythagoreans when teaching geometry and arithmetic directly as a geometric figure and has since been included in a number of training courses. And we can still see their echoes even in modern courses and textbooks.

The peoples of ancient India and China also came to the use of the pentagram, and probably independently of other civilizations. In VI BC. e. In China, the concept of Wu Xing arose, which means “five movements” or “five transformations,” which was a logical continuation of the Yin-Yang concept. According to them, the interaction of the universal principles of Yin and Yang gives rise to five elements, or otherwise - five elements, of which the world visible to us consists and thanks to the interaction of which it exists. These five elements are different from the five elements of the European tradition - according to Wu-sin, they are Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. The interaction pattern of these elements forms a pentagram. This scheme formed the basis of ancient Chinese philosophy, traditional medicine (for example, acupuncture, where it is successfully used to this day), and was widely used in numerology, fortune-telling practices and martial arts.

The pentacle was revered in ancient (and not only) Japan, as well as among the American Indians.

For the Jews, the pentagram was a symbol of the sacred Pentateuch, which, according to legend, was received by Moses from God.

The symbol of Islam is considered to be a five-pointed Star with a Crescent (although this symbol, of course, existed before Muhammad, whom Muslims consider their prophet). In Islam, the pentagram symbolizes the five main pillars of this religion, and sometimes the five daily prayers.

Next, it would be logical to talk about the use of the pentagram in Christianity, however, due to trends that have arisen recently, we will temporarily skip this topic and cover it in detail a little later, but now we will talk about the later use of the pentagram. In the twelfth century, Hildegard of Bingen, a nun and abbess, wrote works in which she considered the pentagram as a symbol of man (this was partly motivated by the fact that pentagonal symmetry is characteristic of man - the pentagram can serve as a schematic representation of him, we have five limbs, five senses, etc.). And since man, according to Christian beliefs, was created in the image and likeness of God, the pentagram for her became his personification.

This story, long forgotten in wide circles, as well as the works of Hildegard herself, could have long been consigned to general oblivion, but perhaps it was her ideas that formed the basis for the further development of the pentagram as a symbol among mystical Christianity, Hermeticism, alchemy and the occult. They gradually developed a tendency to associate the pentagram with a person. Perhaps this is also the influence of the emerging Humanism. Sometimes the image of a person was simply inscribed in the pentagram, as was done, for example, by Cornelius Agrippa in his “Occult Philosophy”. As a result, the classic Pythagorean pentagram of Fire, Earth, Water, Air and Ether with a person inscribed in it began to symbolize the Microcosm and the spiritual work of man manifested in the material world. Drawing parallels with alchemy, we can say that in it such a symbol could mean the “Great Work,” although the alchemists themselves often used their own symbol to designate the “Great Work,” which is largely due to their tradition.

After this, the pentagram was used by various occult-religious and other movements and orders - Gnostics, Freemasons, Rosicrucians, Martinists, etc. Nowadays, the pentagram, among other things, is also a symbol of the Wiccan tradition and neo-paganism (especially in Western countries). This is one of the most common signs that can be found almost anywhere - from state flags to ritual objects.

Are the pentagram and inverted pentagram a symbol of evil?

Recently, the opinion has spread significantly that the pentagram or the so-called “inverted pentagram” (with one end pointing down and two points up) is in one way or another connected with some negativity, evil, dark forces, etc. Basically, something similar can be heard from some (though by no means all) Christian hierarchs, seen in various mystical thrillers and “horror” films, and sometimes even heard from some unenlightened magicians who have little understanding of the history of this issue.

To expose this misconception, it is best to turn to perhaps the most unexpected, at first glance, source - namely, Christianity itself, its symbolism, architecture, iconography and history. This may surprise some, but Christians themselves actively used both the pentagram and the inverted pentagram. As we have already written, these symbols existed long before the emergence of Christianity, but it adopted them from previous magical traditions and gave them a new meaning.

Thus, the “inverted pentagram”, which is now so actively reviled, along with the usual one, already for the early Christians became a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem. The explanation for this is simply banal and is connected with the biblical parable about the wise men who, following a star, found Jesus and They brought him gifts - with her beam directed downward, she pointed them to the place where Jesus would be born, because according to scripture, she moved across the sky from east to west and stopped right above the cave with the baby’s cradle. Sometimes in the images, to emphasize this idea, the beam was extended to the ground. Not to mention ancient monuments, such images can be found even in modern religious literature, although their use has significantly decreased due to the spread of the mentioned misconception.

In an effort to be objective, it is necessary to make a digression here and mention that the Star of Bethlehem has gone through a long historical path - at different times and in different areas of the planet it was depicted in different ways, and with different numbers of rays, since the number of its rays is not limited by the Christian canon, however, it can be confidently stated that the pentagram was also widely used as the Star of Bethlehem. Actually, in this capacity, it has survived to our times, for example, in the form of the tradition that came to us from Europe to decorate the Christmas tree top with a pentagonal star.

Early Christians wore an “inverted” pentagram precisely as a guiding amulet, to gain spiritual guidance and protection - so that higher powers would protect and guide them. The Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine I the Great, who stopped the persecution of Christians and, in fact, made Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire, placed an “inverted” pentagram on his personal seal.

Gradually, the inverted pentagram became a symbol of the transfiguration of Christ, as well as his descent into the world (that’s why it is directed downwards). In particular, one can recall the famous icon of Andrei Rublev “The Transfiguration of the Lord,” painted by him at the beginning of the 15th century, where Christ is depicted against the background of a clearly visible inverted pentagram. Here it must be emphasized that Andrei Rublev is one of the most famous and most revered Orthodox icon painters, who, by the way, was canonized. He was the author of many rules that later became the canons of icon painting and the contribution that he made can still be felt in icon painting. An inverted pentagram, along with an inverted cross in Christianity, can also symbolize the Apostle Peter, since, according to biblical legends, he was crucified on an “inverted” cross - upside down.

In general, it should be said that in the Christian tradition the symbol of the pentagram developed and acquired new meanings and applications, which, in the end, accumulated quite a lot. As we have already written, it was used by Christians as an amulet of protection and spiritual guidance (later the cross began to play this role), and was a symbol of transformation and the descent into the world of Christ. It also symbolized the 5 wounds of the crucified Jesus, the 5 joys of the Virgin Mary, etc. It was also a symbol of the Savior himself - the five ends symbolized the holy trinity, as well as the divine and human nature of Jesus. Subsequently, this scheme will become one of the foundations of the occult concept of the Pentagrammaton. The association of the Savior with a five-pointed star was also sometimes justified by quotations from the Bible, for example: “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you this in the churches. I am the root and the descendant David, the bright and morning star” (Rev. 22:16). Among cabalistic Christianity one could find the following explanation of the pentagram as a symbol of Jesus: “...the inverted pentagram is “Zeir Anpin”, Microprosopus or “Small Face” of the Lord, which is formed on the Tree of Life by six lower Sephiroth: Hesed-Geburah-Tiferet-Netzach-Hod-Yesod, separated by an Abyss from the three Higher Sephiroth. However, “Zeir Anpinom” is also one of the names of Tifiret, the Divine Son, through the union with which our world (lower Sephira - Malchut) could be saved. By identifying Christ with Tiphiret, Christian Kabbalists could quite logically identify the entire inverted pentagram as a whole with him.»

As in antiquity, the pentagram and inverted pentagram were actively used by Christians in heraldry. For example, we can consider the coat of arms of the ancient German family Wieser. At the same time, the pentagram was also used spiritual orders of knights. Here, as an example, we can consider the Order of the Knights of Bethlehem (or as it was also called the “Order of Bethlehem” or “the Order of the Crusaders of the Red Star on Blue” - “Betlemitani o Ordine militare" And " Ordine crociferi con stella rossa in campo blu"Italian). It arose as an order of crusaders during the first crusade. It is interesting to us because, as its name suggests, its coat of arms was a red pentagram on a blue field.

Pentagrams can also be found on medieval robes of priests, drawings, stained glass windows, mosaics, bas-reliefs of temples, churches and cathedrals. So the bas-relief in the Church of St. Peter and Moses in Solina (Croatia), IX-XI centuries. contains a very obvious pentagram. In the Catholic Church of St. Peter and Paul (XIII century) in the Estonian city of Kaarma (Saaremaa Island) you can see a painting in the form of an inverted pentagram. The window of the north nave of the Amiens Cathedral in France (it was built between 1220 and 1410) is made in the form an elaborate stained glass window depicting an inverted pentagram. If you find yourself in Hannover, then you can see a huge inverted pentagram (adjacent to the hexagram) on the so-called “Market Church” (MarktkircheGerman) St. George and St. Jacob, built in the 14th century. In St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, built between 1359 and 1511 there is a bas-relief depicting the adoration of the Magi, on which there is a pentagram symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem. In the northeastern part of the Bethlehem Basilica of the Nativity (according to Christian tradition, it was built on the site where Jesus was born) near the northern exit from the Cave of the Nativity, there is an Armenian altar on which you can distinguish a clear relief pentagram, symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem. The Moscow Theological Church, built in 1805, is also capable of surprising the unenlightened with a bas-relief with a pentagram on its wall. And the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood in St. Petersburg is simply replete with various images of pentagrams. And all of the above are by no means exceptions, but only vivid and well-known examples. In general, in most large temples, churches or basilicas you can, in one form or another, find an image of a pentagram.

Thus, the myth that the pentagram or an inverted pentagram has since ancient times been considered symbols of some kind of evil or something similar can be considered debunked. Quite the contrary - all historical facts indicate the opposite. There are several versions of the origin of this misconception and several key events associated with it. There are versions that the beginning of the negative perception of the pentagram was the rise of the Inquisition or the massacre of the Templar Order. However, the author of this article has not yet been able to find any significant arguments in favor of the first version; the second was argued mainly by the fact that many Templars had pentagrams as part of their coats of arms. However, this was a common practice both before and after the Templars. In addition, as we have already shown, pentagrams were actively used later, in Christian iconography, painting and architecture.

Perhaps the first to associate the inverted pentagram with the devil was the French occultist Alphonse Louis Constant ( Alphonse Louis Constant fr.), better known under the pseudonym Eliphas Levi Zahed, who lived in the 19th century. In his work “The Teaching and Ritual of High Magic,” he wrote that a pentagram with two rays facing upward is a symbol of Satan. However, it should be noted here that in the millennia of history of this symbol, this was perhaps the first documented statement of this kind. Previously, there was no such information either in Christian sources or anywhere else. Thus, this opinion was first expressed in the middle of the 19th century. As for the very source of this opinion, everything is not so simple here either. Despite the fact that Eliphas Levi has some authority as an occultist (albeit sometimes questioned), his opinion can hardly be considered the only correct one. Them moreover, given the age of this symbol and the numerous traditions, cults and esotericists of the past who did not adhere to such an opinion. It must also be taken into account that at that time Levi’s interpretation did not become some kind of sensation that turned the world of occultism upside down - it existed, but it existed quietly and peacefully along with other interpretations of the pentagram symbol that contradicted it. It did not change the perception of the pentagram by the broad masses (most of whom, it must be admitted, had no time for these matters at that time). Finally, a number of modern occultists, who, perhaps, to some extent, can be considered descendants and continuers of the tradition, into the formation of which Eliphas Levi made a significant contribution, point out that in this case his words must be interpreted not literally (speech, in this case, we are talking about the Order of the Eastern Templars).

For the perception of the pentagram in Russia, an important milestone was the coming to power of the Bolsheviks - because one of their main symbols was the red five-pointed star. The hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church admit that before the revolution the pentagram was actively was used by the church and the turning point in this sense came precisely as a result of the persecution of the Soviet government against the church. This was one of the key factors for changing the perception of the pentagram by Russian believers. The second important milestone was an event that occurred in the USA in 1966 - then Howard Stanton LaVey (also known as Anton Szandor LaVey) founded the so-called Church of Satan and (being familiar with the works of Eliphas Levi) made a stylized inverted pentagram with inscribed in it is a goat's head and a number of signs, the symbol of this organization. Subsequently, the shocking effect that attracted attention and detailed coverage of this organization in the Western media became the reason for the spread of associations of the pentagram with Satanism among the broad masses. To top it off, the release of various films and other mass media products began, which, being historically unreliable, also contributed to the strengthening of these associations.

Thus, as we see, the opinion about the connection of the pentagram with something negative arose only in the second half of the 19th century, and became truly widespread only in the second half of the 20th century. And the foundation of this opinion is very shaky - in fact, everything is based only on the mystical experience and experiences of Eliphas Levi.

It is noteworthy that the indiscriminate denunciation of this symbol (as well as some others), which was quite common among church hierarchs of a certain quality, soon hit them themselves - numerous pentagrams and hexagrams in churches now serve as grounds for accusing the church itself, that it is mired in Satanism or that it is controlled by Jews (a version popular among nationalists). Here we can only shrug our shoulders and note that the desecration of one’s own (and the world’s) spiritual and cultural heritage could hardly have ended differently.

Why did the Bolsheviks make the star a symbol of the USSR?

The five-pointed star became a symbol of Soviet Russia thanks to one of the Bolshevik leaders, Leon Trotsky. When it was officially approved by the order of the People's Commissar of Military Affairs of the Republic Leon Trotsky No. 321 dated May 7, 1918, the five-pointed star received the name “Mars star with a plow and hammer.” The order also stated that this sign “is the property of persons serving in the Red Army.”

Trotsky was seriously immersed in esoteric sciences and knew that the five-pointed pentagram has a strong psychological effect and is one of the most striking And memorable characters. It must be said that the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries was a time of “triumph of occultism” - almost every educated person went through a passion for mysticism. And the star in those days was a very fashionable symbol.

Igor Avdeev.

Ornamental emblem. (Architecture: an illustrated guide, 2005) ... Architectural Dictionary

Star of David ... Wikipedia

Stars, plural stars, stars and (obsolete) stars, stars, women. 1. A celestial body, glowing with its own light, appearing to the human eye as a luminous point in the firmament. Star of the sixth magnitude (astron.). A sky dotted with stars. "Transparent... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

star- STAR1, s, many stars, stars, stars, g A celestial body, which is a hot gas ball, visible to the human eye from the Earth as a luminous point. The forest will be filled with rustling and ringing in the morning, but in the meantime a dark sky with bright ... Explanatory dictionary of Russian nouns

Means the presence of a deity, supremacy, eternal and undying, the highest achievement, the angel of God's messenger, hope (shining in the darkness), the eyes of the night. Stars are attributes of the Heavenly Queens, whose crowns often consist of stars. Morning or evening... ... Dictionary of symbols

Regular four-pointed star A star is a certain type of flat non-convex polygon, which, however, does not have an unambiguous mathematical definition. Typically, stars mean figures that resemble the image of a star in shape. One of... Wikipedia

Y, plural stars, w. 1. A celestial body consisting of hot gases (plasma), similar in nature to the Sun and appearing to the human eye as a luminous point in the night sky. Polar Star. Evening Star. □ The air was fresh and... ... Small academic dictionary

Regular four-pointed star ... Wikipedia

This term has other meanings, see Star (meanings). A star (in Russian also often referred to in the diminutive form “star”) is an element of the insignia of military personnel of various armed forces of states ... Wikipedia

star- s, plural stars, stars, w. 1) A celestial body visible in the sky at night as a bright point. Morning Star. Bright Star. The stars shine in the blue sky, the waves lash in the blue sea... (Pushkin). Synonyms: light (high) 2) trans. About a figure of art, science,... ... Popular dictionary of the Russian language

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• State emblem of the USSR. State emblems of the Union Republics,. The State Emblem of the USSR is the official emblem of the USSR, one of the first socialist emblems. The state emblem is a distinctive sign of the state, placed on seals, banknotes,…
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The star belongs to the ancient symbols of humanity, adopted by the heraldry of different nations, and belongs to the astral signs. Her image is perceived as eternity and longing. In heraldry and emblems, the star symbol differs in the number of angles and color. Their combination gives different national nuances of meaning.

Eight-pointed star - meaning of the symbol

What does the eight-pointed star mean? In different teachings, the octogram symbolizes the symbol of harmony of spirit and matter. The image of an eight-pointed star is considered as two squares, which are superimposed on each other at an angle, and has been associated since ancient times as balance, solidity and refers to the symbol of proportionality. The eight-pointed figure can also be seen as two crosses aligned in the center, which are the basis of the universe. The “star” symbol with eight rays is a common insignia of the order in many Christian states.

The symbol of the number of rays is the endless circular movements of energy in space -. Eastern philosophy explains the merging of two crosses as the law of karma, which represents the seven incarnations of the human soul, and the eighth ray represents entering heaven. An octogram in the form of a “star” symbol with eight rays has different meanings:

• in the zone;
• in Orthodoxy;
• among the Slavs;
• in Islam.

Five-pointed star - meaning of the symbol

Since ancient times, wearing a figure with five rays protected the owner and was considered a talisman of well-being. The fusion of the elements of Earth and Air, Fire and Water, combined with Spirit. What does the five-pointed star mean? The pentagram is a symbol of life. Its protective properties determine the relationship with the beginning and the end. The pentagram can be drawn on a sheet of paper without lifting your hand. This process is characterized as a continuous cycle in which the beginning merges with the end and can be repeated. The pentagram is positioned with the tip up; the symbol is used upside down by witches.

Four-pointed star symbol

A star, which has four rays, belongs to the symbols of guidance (light in the darkness of the night). It is used by a number of organizations that determine the right path. What does a four-pointed star mean? The form associated with the cross is mainly adopted in Christianity. It is used on departmental service awards. The four-pointed star is a symbol of good luck in career growth. It serves as the emblem of combat sports and club badges. The four-beam principle is maintained for all teams. The emblems differ in rotation angle, size and color.

Star of David - meaning of the symbol

Two triangles with equal sides superimposed on one another appear as a six-pointed shape. This ancient image is present in the culture of different countries and has many names: Solomon's seal, hexagram, magendovid. According to one version, its name is associated with King David, who used the star for his talisman. The letter “D” had the image of a triangle, and in the name of the king there are two of them.

The Star of David symbol is placed on ancient religious and magical books. For Christians, the hexagram served as a decoration for the temple. The image of the symbol was present on amulets and amulets. The hexagram was not always recognized by Jewish culture. The Star of David became a symbol of Israel in the early 18th century, when it was used by the Zionists. There is no single interpretation of the sign. This is a very ancient symbol, the history of which is complicated. From various sources it has been assigned magical, cult and mythical properties.

Star of Solomon - the meaning of the symbol

One of the ancient and powerful symbols in magic is the star of Solomon. It is suitable for rituals of protection and influence. round disk, what does the star symbolize, has magical powers. Engraving is applied to pendants and rings worn by sorcerers. They are mainly made of silver, less often - of gold. The pentacle is used in rituals by witches and white magicians, which is why it is called the “Solomon Star”.

It can represent God or man. The five rays of the star are the number of wounds that were inflicted on Christ on the crucifixion. The points of the human body are the head and arms and legs outstretched in different directions. The pentacle is embroidered by magicians on clothes and drawn around and inside the magic circle when performing rituals and ceremonies. Amulets with the image of Solomon's star protect magicians from evil spirits. They act as a talisman and allow one to communicate and command demons.

Inverted Star Symbol

Not every person knows the meaning of the symbols that may appear. What does an inverted star mean? This is the pentagram of Satan. A very powerful symbol that has existed for many centuries. It was used in ancient Rome and Egypt. The black devil pentagram has been depicted in different ways. It could have the appearance of a goat's head, where the beard is the corner of the star below, and the upper two are the horns of the animal.

This sign symbolizes the superiority of material values ​​and black magic over spiritual power and the elements. A star that has the correct location can overcome black power; it was used in magical rites and rituals. The symbol of black devils is often used in horror films and mystical books. In the modern world, the symbol of an inverted star relates to the occult sciences.

Slavic symbol - star of Rus'

Knowledge about ancient talismans has survived to this day. The star of Rus' is considered one of the most powerful amulets of the Slavs. He was well known in ancient times. The amulet also has another name, which means the star of Svarog (square). By creating this amulet, the ancient Slavs glorified the memory of their ancestors, restoring the connection between other worlds and the current generation. The ancient Slavs had three of them: Prav, Reveal and Navi. This meant the world of gods, men and the dead.

They must be perceived as a unity in order to maintain the balance of prolonging life on Earth. This connection runs through the past generation, the present and the future. The symbol “star of Rus'” was on the decoration of princes Vladimir and Svyatoslav. The amulet is an eight-pointed star, which consists of intertwined squares and pointed ovals. They are a symbol of the fertility of the earth, justice and honor.

Star of England - meaning of the symbol

What does the star of England mean? Amulet of the ancient Slavs. It represents a star with nine rays, consisting of three triangles with equal sides, and is the main symbol of the Ingliins. The amulet unites the Body, Soul and Spirit of a person and connects it with three worlds: Rule - the Gods, Reveal - people, Navi - the underworld of the ancestors. A circle containing three triangles of elements: Air around Fire, Water and Earth. The amulet has strong energy and helps to maintain contact with ancestors, receiving their wisdom and vitality. The runes used to decorate the star help to enhance its effect.

Erzgamma star - meaning of the symbol

In a difficult situation, a person turns to higher powers, asking for help. It is believed that the symbol of the Erzgamma star is the main talisman. It helps to maintain connection with the Universe. What is an Erzgamma star and what does it look like? It unites the human soul and cosmic forces. The amulet is a star with twelve rays. They are formed by four triangles with equal sides, which create harmony in the soul and body. In the center of the amulet there is a cross, which symbolizes the resurrection of Christ after his death, and the 12 rays are the apostles.