HISTORY OF THE PENTAGRAM
"The Star which guided the Magi, is the same Blazing Star, the image whereof we find in all initiations.
To the Alchemist it is the sign of the Quintessence.
To the Magists, the Grand Arcanum.
To the Kabbalists, the Sacred Pentagram.
The study of this Pentagram could not but lead the Magi to the knowledge of the New Name which was about to raise itself above all names, and cause all creatures capable of adoration to bend the knee."
Albert Pike
To talk about symbols and understand their contributions throughout the centuries, we must first understand their natural origin. One of these symbols, which will be the first of this series, is the star of Venus, best known to all as “the five-pointed” otherwise pentagram or pentacle, a symbol of balance, health, and protection. The pentagram is one of the oldest symbols on Earth and is known to have been used as a spiritual tool throughout the world from the beginning of time it is one of the most misunderstood symbols in human history. The earliest pentagrams were rough diagrams found scratched into Stone Age caves, and discovered later in the Tigris-Euphrates region, dating as far back as 6000 B.C.E. Later it was identified on potsherds together with other signs of the period associated with the earliest known developments of written language.
For the Sumerians and Babylonians, the 5 points represented either the 5 astrological directions associated with Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Saturn, and Venus (Astarte, the local Goddess) or the 4 corners of Earth and the Vault of Heaven. The top or "above" point of the star symbolized Venus/Astarte - She was revered as the "Queen of Heaven." In fact, the pentagram has long been associated with Venus throughout history to these days. In later periods of Mesopotamian art, the pentagram was used in royal inscriptions as a symbol of imperial power extending out to "the four corners of the world". It has even been found carved into the walls of Neolithic caves, and in Babylonian and Assyrian drawings, where it marks the pattern the planet Venus makes on its travels, a secret symbol of the Goddess Ishtar.
In the Sumerian civilization, the pentagram served not only to represent the five visible planets but also to mark directions. In their cuneiform language, we can often see the inverted pentagram (two points up) served as a pictograph of the word "UB" meaning "corner or angle". The word UB was the original name of the pentagram and literally signified the most important religious ceremony of the various Sumer cities in honor of the "Queen of Heaven" also known as Inanna/Ishtar and in later centuries as Athena/Cybele and Venus. As a result, the pentagram has always been an official symbol of the "Queen of Heaven" from the beginning of time.
8 years pattern of Venus
The ancient Greeks and Romans, amongst other ancient civilizations, considered the pentacle a symbol of balance, health, and an image of the human body's perfection. Throughout history we see this concept evolving and implementing the understanding of creation. Henry Cornelius Agrippa von Hettesheim, a sixteenth-century German magician, early scientist, and author of "Three Books of Occult Philosophy", drew a pentagram superimposed on a human body to show the perfection of the human form and its harmony with the four elements of matter and spirit and the respective planets. He believed in humanity as a microcosm, reflecting the influences of the wider macrocosm as indicated by the seven planetary symbols ( 5 planets + Sun and Moon). Starting at the lower left and moving clockwise, the five planets are placed in order of their orbits: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, represented also by the head and 4 limbs, forming a perfect microcosmic pentagram. His contemporary, Italian Philosopher Giordano Bruno, created a similar figure symbolizing the importance of the number five to the human soul. Perhaps because Bruno and other Renaissance philosophers and magicians were executed as heretics by the Inquisition, this symbol became associated with witchcraft and evil deeds. The Vitruvian Man is a world-renowned drawing created by Leonardo da Vinci in 1490 that depicts a nude male figure in two superimposed positions with his arms and legs apart and simultaneously inscribed in a circle and square. The drawing and text are sometimes called the Canon of Proportions or, less often, Proportions of Man, in correlations of ideal geometrical human proportions. It is described by the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius in Book III of his treatise De Architectura. This drawing represents a cornerstone of Leonardo's study to relate man to nature and the mathematical concept of the Golden Ratio. The Divine Proportion plays an important role in the mathematical nature of the Pentagram and is one beloved of artists since Renaissance times and also to be found in post-Hellenic art and in the geomantic planning of Templar sites. The ratio of the lengths of the two sides is equal to the ratio of the longer side to the sum of the two sides. The Golden Ratio is much found in nature and we can see it in everything if we really pay attention. An example is found in the pattern arrangement of flower heads and leaves and many flowers and fruits themselves exhibit a fivefold symmetry.
The Microcosm by Agrippa
Leonardo Da Vinci
"The Vitruvian Man" and the Golden Ratio.
The Golden Ratio in a pentagram
Golden Ratio in a rose.
Golden Ratio in La Gioconda.
Hygeia
Greek goddess of health,
wholeness and hygiene.
In Ancient Greece, the geometry of the pentagram and its metaphysical associations were explored by the Pythagoreans (after Pythagoras 586-506BC) who considered it an emblem of perfection, and the continuous line was believed to be symbolic of Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. It was called the Pentalpha, a five-pointed star, resembling five alphas joined at their bases, composed of five geometrical A's. The Pythagoreans called the pentagram "Hugieia" with the combined meanings of Health, Wholeness, and Blessings. The Greek Goddess of Health was Hygeia or the Roman Salus, both appearing on talismans with the image of a central pentagram. The five-pointed star was a sign of recognition and was held sacred as a symbol of Divine Perfection. Pythagoras’ study went beyond mathematics, though, as he assigned the five ancient elements to the five points of the star: "Earth, Water, Air, and Fire on the four lower points; and Spirit on the topmost point", as well as "Energy, Fluid, Breath, Matter, and Mind" and also "Liquid, Gas, Solid, Plasma, and Aethyr, or Spirit". Depending on the mythology, this arrangement usually indicated the correct ordering of the world, with material things subject to the spirit. Pythagoras was known to have traveled all over the ancient world and because of his journeys, we may be able to draw a connection with the presence of the pentagram in Tantrik art. He appears in Tantric Texts by the name of " Yavanacharia" meaning the Greek Teacher. These early Hindu and Buddhist writings seem to share Pythagoras' view of the star and its symbology. In the Hindu religion, in fact, the pentagram is the "Star of Initiation." It is the castle mark of the Priests of Shiva, who dedicate it to the sun God by marking a black round dot inside the symbol of the star.
Early Christians attributed the pentagram to the Five Wounds of Christ and from then until medieval times, it was a lesser-used Christian symbol. Prior to the time of the Inquisition, there were no 'evil' associations to the pentagram. Rather it was a form that implied Truth, religious mysticism, and the work of The Creator. Emperor Constantine I, used the pentagram, together with the "chi-rho" symbol (a symbolic form of the cross) in his seal and amulets. It wasn’t combined with negative magic, because it symbolized perfection. However, it is ironic that it was the cross (a symbol of suffering) rather than the pentagram (a symbol of truth) that was used as a symbol by the Church. During the three centuries-long burning times, the Christian church burned alive or hung tens of thousands of innocent people accused of Witchcraft, Satan worship, or other nonsense "heresies". The church eventually chose the cross as a more significant symbol for Christianity, and the use of the pentagram as a Christian symbol gradually ceased. The significance of this sacred symbol was not tainted until the 16th century, and It began to symbolize witchcraft and anything related to magick, often represented by a goat's head or the devil in the form of Baphomet. (we will cover this subject in another article) "The folk symbol of security, for the first time in history, was equated with evil and was called the Witch's Foot." Still to this day, the pentagram is criticized by modern Christians, as being a symbol of evil. Very few Christians know the history of their symbology.
"Chi Rho"
Constantine's Seal
"Christ as Pentagram"
by Valeriano Bolzani 1556
Representing the five Wounds of Christ.
Kabbalistic Tree of Life
The pentagram was also used by the Hebrews as a symbol of Truth and for the five books of the Pentateuch (The first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures). In the Jewish Kabbalistic tradition, which borrows many Pythagorean ideas, the pentagram represents the five upper Sephiroth on the Tree of Life, five numbers, being indivisible by any but themselves, which represent pure archetypal forces: justice, mercy, wisdom, understanding, and transcendent splendor. Ameth, the Hebrew word for Truth is associated with humanity by the Kabbalistic technique of "Temurah" using the "Aiq Beqr" system which utilizes letter substitution according to specific rules. Later Kabbalistic Judeo-Christians would associate the name of Christ in Hebrew characters YHShVH or Yeheshua to the five points of the pentagram, showing the Divine TETRAGRAMMATON associated with it. Some amulets contained the pentacle with the ineffable name YHVH with it, and more often with the name of Solomon or Moses. The five-pointed star is also known in Jewish magickal tradition as the "Seal of Solomon" in contrast with the six-pointed "Star of David" and it is believed to have become associated with witches during the medieval persecutions, as did other symbols such as the Sabbath and the Synagogue.
In medieval times, the pentagram was called the "Endless Knot" and it was a symbol of TRUTH and PROTECTION and used as an amulet or personal shield and to guard windows and doors against evil and misfortune. The pentagram with one point upwards symbolized summer; with two points upward, it was a sign of winter. In the legend of Sir Gawain, (nephew of King Arthur) and the Green Knight, the pentagram was used as his signature glyph and was inscribed in gold on his shield. The legend tells us that Gawain used the symbol for the five knightly virtues - generosity, courtesy, chastity, chivalry, and piety. The symbol of the pentagram appears on many Knights Templars graves in France as well as being intrinsic to the architecture and positioning of many chapels.
Summer
Winter
In the Renaissance era, ritual magicians used the Pentagram to represent the Microcosm of the human body. The practice of Ritual Magic was used to create a state of closeness with creation through the use of symbols and rituals to imitate the divine state. It was believed that like affects like, that the connection between the world of symbols and the world of actions could be manipulated for both good or evil purposes, and only the intentions of the magician would determine the nature of the magick used. One of these magicians, Giordano Bruno, said that 5 is the number of the soul because the human soul is bounded by five outer points, and as a pentagram, it is a powerful tool to invoke the forces of the Universe. He understood the power of human intentions or Will and the consequences if used improperly. The pentagram is still central to the practice of ritual magick and is used in the foundation of many of its rituals.
"Blazing Star"
Celtic Druids saw the pentagram as a symbol of the Godhead and the sacred nature of five or the important nature of "five-ness" in many things, reflected in much of their symbology. It's also important to note that these Celtic traditions provide the foundation for much of modern Paganism practiced today. Certain pre-christian pagan groups who valued the spiritual knowledge of creation saw the pentagram as the "Blazing Star". It was often shared with the symbology of the crescent moon which related to the magick and mystery of the nighttime sky or the mysteries of darkness. The Celts also believed that the pentacle was the sign of the Goddess of the Underground, whom they called Morgan ( Morrigan). The concept of five points still seems to have permeated at least one of the Celtic lands. "Ireland had five great roads, five provinces, and five paths of the law. The fairy folk counted by fives, and the mythological figures wore fivefold cloaks."
Wiccans, in the attempt to reconstruct a Pagan religion similar to that of the ancient Celts, have adopted the upright pentacle/pentagram, since it was the symbol of Morgan or Morrigan, an ancient Celtic goddess. In Paganism, the five points represent the five elements and their metaphysical aspects. The element of EARTH represents physical endurance and stability and is the symbol of the lower-left point. The lower right point is symbolic of FIRE, which represents courage. The element of WATER represents intuition and emotion and is the meaning of the upper right point. The upper left point symbolizes AIR and represents intelligence. The fifth point symbolizes the element of SPIRIT and represents the divine. The meaning is similar to the old saying “mind over matter,” which means the ability of one’s spirit to control the lower aspects of our being. Many wear it as jewelry and use it on their altars, considering the pentacle an infinity symbol providing protection. The symbol is frequently traced by hand using an athame (a ritual knife) during rituals. It is used to cast and banish their healing circles. The five points as representing the Elements are considered the five factors needed to sustain life. Others relate the points to the four directions and spirit. Some Wiccans and other Neopagans bless themselves and others with the sign of the pentagram. Their hand passes from their forehead to one hip, up to the opposite shoulder, across to the other shoulder, down to the opposite hip, and back to the forehead. As the primary symbol used by Wiccans and other Neo-Pagans, the pentagram also represents aspects of their faith. To some, the pentagram is the spiritual aspect of life and seeking secret knowledge. When within a circle, its protective strength solidifies and symbolizes wholeness, unity, and divine knowledge. In that way, they combine the individual elements of the human being.
The pentagram was known also in the ancient Chinese religion to symbolize the five elements of life: water, metal, earth, fire, and wood. To this day is represented by the "Wu Xing", also known as the Five Elements, Five Phases, the Five Agents, the Five Movements, Five Processes, and the Five Steps/Stages. It is a fivefold conceptual scheme that many traditional Chinese fields used to explain a wide array of phenomena, from cosmic cycles to the interaction between internal organs, and from the succession of political regimes to the properties of medicinal drugs. Patterns of five are common in Chinese Taoism and pre-Taoist philosophy, including the Five Elements theory and the Five Animals, (Pixiu, Dragon, Phoenix, Tortoise, and Chinese Unicorn).
"Wu-Xing"
In Japanese culture, the symbol of the pentagram was also considered a powerful and magickal tool representing harmony and balance. In fact, the Japanese Shinto religion has used the pentagram as a religious emblem for centuries.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began using both upright and inverted Pentagrams in Temple architecture, dating in 1846. Many other temples were decorated with five-pointed stars in both orientations including the Salt Lake Temple and the Logan Utah Temple. These usages come from the symbolism found in Revelation chapter 12: "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars."
Inverted Pentagram with Baphomet
The pentagram has long been associated with various magical and occult beliefs. Moreover, the pentagram has frequently represented mankind as well as the microcosm. Satanism, which reveres the accomplishments of humanity and encourages believers to embrace physical wants and desires, also equates the Pentagram with "intellectual omnipotence and autocracy". In Satanism, the inverted pentagram represents the physical elements of earth, fire, air, and water dominating the spiritual aspects of life, or simply representing the divine forces of the Universe influencing our existence, symbolizing energy entering our Crown Chakra from above. The placing of Baphomet, the goat-face, within the pentagram dates to the 19th century. The pentagram has long been associated with mystery and magick and is often misunderstood and feared. It is the simplest form of star shape that can be drawn unicursally, with a single line, hence it is sometimes called the Endless Knot. Other names are the Goblin's Cross, the Pentalpha, the Witch's Foot, and the Devil's Star. According to theosophical societies, the inverted pentagram represents dark forces and matter. Madam Blavatsky associated the inverted pentagram with "Kali Yuga", the present dark age and materialism of Hindu belief, but theistic Satanists tend to believe it is the Spiritual descending into the Physical, as the Universal life force pointing down on Earth and directing Its power...
Serer is the name of the second largest ethnic group located in Senegal and Gambia in West Africa. The word Serer, in ancient Egyptian, means "He who traces the temples." Thus, although Serer is mainly found today in Senegal, they have a long history across Africa. Seereer religion is also called "a Æat Roog" ("the way of the Divine" or "path of God"). The Serer people believe in a universal Supreme deity called Roog. The Serer represents an African people with an extensive religious history and fascinating regard for the human community as expressed in their language. From their famous burial mounds, tumuli, or pyramids to their intense philosophical reflections on the nature of space and time, human relationships, and the meaning of life, the Serer is in the tradition of Africans who have confronted their environment with numerous questions and answers.
The Serer account regarding the origins of the stars is found in Serer cosmology especially the Star of "Yoonir" (in Serer and Cangin) more commonly known as the Star of Sirius, Serer-numbers, and symbolism. Yoonir (Sirius), is the Serer representation of the Universe and transcendence. Its five branches symbolize humans on Earth, standing up with their heads held high, and their hands raised, which symbolizes work and prayer. The Star is spread across the heavens and on Earth figuratively, symbolizing the sign of the supreme deity (Roog or Koox) and the image of man.
The Druze Star
The Druze religion has its roots in Ismailism, a religio-philosophical movement that founded the Fatimid Caliphate in Egypt in the tenth century. They are an ethno-religious esoteric group originating from the Near East who self-identify as Unitarians, with about 1.5 million adherents found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel, with small communities in Jordan and outside the Middle East.
The Druze faith is a monotheistic and Abrahamic religion based on the teachings of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Akhenaten, Hamza, and Al-Hakim, incorporating elements of Gnosticism, Neoplatonism,
Pythagoreanism, Ismailism, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and other philosophies and beliefs, create a distinct and secretive theology known to esoterically interpret religious scriptures and to highlight the role of the mind and truthfulness.
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The Druze follow theophany, which is the belief that God manifests Himself in a human form and in reincarnation or the transmigration of the soul.
At the end of the cycle of rebirth, which is achieved through successive reincarnations, the soul is united with the Cosmic Mind.
The five segmented stars are the primary emblem of the Druze faith, symbolizing the five tenets of Druze belief. Each segment is a different color, and each color represents a different universal principle: The mind, the male principle, the sun; green. The soul, the female principle, the lunar principle, red. The Word, the mediator between the divine and the material, is yellow. Will, the realm of possibility, Blue. Manifested will, actualization, white.
Paola Luciani Fulbright
