Hexagonal star of David. What does the Star of David look like. The meaning of the symbol in different cultures

Do you know what the Star of David means? The meaning of this ancient sign may surprise you. After all, it is found in the magical traditions of many peoples, and not only among the Jews.

Star of David - meaning among different nations

The Star of David is significant not only among the Jewish people. Contrary to popular belief, the hexagram is not and has never been a symbol of the Jewish religion.

There are many versions of its origin of the symbol. The sign has another name - the Shield of David, or Magen David. Legends associate its origin with the shape of the shields of the army of King David. Some even argue that David, still the future king, invented such a shield himself, tying six poles in a special way and covering them with cowhide. And in this there is nothing impossible, because the winner of Goliath gained fame and rose precisely as a military leader. Moreover, he managed to fight against the Jews on the side of yesterday's enemies of the Philistines, to whom he fled from the disfavor of King Saul (Saul), who was jealous of his fame and popularity.

However, the fate of the young man-slinger, who became one of the greatest kings of the east, is worthy of a separate story.

At the same time, not everyone knows that the version of the origin of the name on behalf of the legendary ruler is far from the only one. For example, many point to the connection between the name of the symbol and the name of the Jewish false messiah David Alroy. Taking advantage of the instability that arose in the Middle East region between the first and second Crusades, Alroy raised a Jewish uprising that covered the territory from Mesopotamia to present-day Azerbaijan. The goal of the rebels was the capture of Jerussalim and the creation of the Jewish kingdom.

Alroy David is a reliable historical figure, while numerous evidences of his magical abilities have come down to us. It is reported that Alroy miraculously escaped the dungeon he was imprisoned in. Moreover, he personally appeared in the camp of the enemy, from where he fled, becoming invisible.

True or fictional, the fact remains that no ability has helped the uprising to succeed. The Jewish army was defeated. Gathering a new army, Alroy became a victim of a conspiracy and died - he was killed in a dream.

The six-pointed star is considered an international symbol. It is found in almost every culture and initially has nothing to do with Judaism. In India, the six-pointed star denotes one of the chakras - Anahata. The two crossed triangles with which it is formed mean masculine and feminine. It was known in India long before it was used in Europe and even in the Middle East.

There are versions about the Russian origin of the symbol thanks to the find of the archaeologist Vyacheslav Meshcheryakov. A characteristic sign was found in the north of the country and was a six-pointed silver star located on a stone surface.

In some regions of the East, the Star of David was identified with the goddess Ishtar, or Astarte. In the Bronze Age, such signs were used by magicians from distant places, for example, Mesopotamia and Britain. Archaeologists have found images of six-pointed signs dating from the Iron Age on the Iberian Peninsula.

The pentagram as a magic symbol is much more common than the hexagram, but the latter can also be often seen in medieval alchemical and magical literature. So, she was often depicted on witch's bottles. This is especially true of ancient Arabic books. There was a theory that ranked the Star of David as an astrological symbol. It could be seen on seals and coats of arms of European origin.

The six-pointed star was also used by Christians, mainly for decorating temples. Even in the Middle Ages, this sign could be seen on protective amulets throughout Europe. The very first evidence that the hexagram was used as a Hebrew symbol dates back to the 14th century. Around the same time, they began to decorate the walls of synagogues. The attitude to it, as to an exclusively Jewish symbol, appears around the 18th century, when they begin to depict it on the tombstones of representatives of this people.

Star of David symbol meaning

There are many interpretations of this symbol, but it should be understood that there is no single answer to the question of what meaning the Star of David has. It is a very ancient symbol with a long history. Now it is considered an exclusively Jewish symbol, but there are those who hold a different opinion. For example, priest Oleg Molenko considers the Star of David to be a Christian symbol, but at the same time writes that the coming of the Devil will be accompanied by a seal with his image.

The most common interpretation of the meaning of the Star of David is associated with a combination of two forces or things, because the sign is made up of two intertwined triangles. It can be God and man, masculine and feminine, Earth and Heaven. In general, this is a combination of two opposites and harmony between them, sometimes the continuation of life. Given the different directions of the tops of the triangles, the Star of David means that these opposites tend to each other. For example, the divine aspires to man, and man to God.

A slightly different meaning was attached to the hexagram in India. This is a struggle between two opposites, not a harmony between them. But at the same time, it is also a designation of the human essence, which cannot but include the struggle between the spiritual and the carnal. Now it is also a symbol of the heart chakra.

There are many versions that attribute a slightly different meaning to this symbol - the unity and struggle of the Elements. At the same time, the parts of the sign that symbolize different Elements differ, depending on the version and its author. There is an opinion that the Star of David is a designation of the divine control of the Elements and the whole world.

In Jewish culture, the six rays represent the days of creation, and the hexagon formed by them in the center is the sabbat, the sacred day of rest. Christians consider the Star of David to be a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem and the seven days of the creation of the World. In combination with the cross, it becomes a symbol of Jesus Christ - the combination of the divine and the human through the cross. But on old icons, this symbol looks somewhat different - like a solid star, not consisting of triangles.

Star of David as an amulet

The Star of David was used as an amulet back in the Middle Ages. However, this was done exclusively by those who were able to understand its meaning. Nowadays, it is widely considered a symbol of belonging to the Jewish people, but if you understand the true meaning of the hexagram, you can safely wear such an amulet.

An amulet with the image of a hexagram is considered protective. He can save from evil spirits and evil witchcraft, like most of the religious symbolism. Since the Star of David, according to legend, was depicted on the shield, the symbol is now considered one of those that are capable of protecting not only from otherworldly troubles, but also from weapons and attempts on life.

Medieval occultists believed that this symbol, worn around the neck, could reveal to its owner the secrets of the past, present and future. Freemasons considered this sign a symbol of wisdom, and alchemists identified it with immortality and the comprehension of secrets.

From all of the above, we can conclude that the Star of David amulet will not only protect against evil, but also be good for those who are going to learn fortune telling or simply want to develop their intuition and receive hints from higher powers in difficult times.

Star of David - the meaning and interpretation of the symbol - all secrets to the site

Do you want reliable protection or success in various endeavors? Then use the talismanic wisdom of the Slavs and the knowledge passed from generation to generation in ancient Russia. Break the cycle of failure by learning about the best defense that works towards your excellence. Read on our website about the choice of amulets, amulets and talismans.

The harmony of a magic amulet with your biofield depends on several parameters: individual characteristics and desired goals. Do not forget about the difference between an amulet, a talisman and a talisman. The amulet is always made personally, the talisman and amulet can be purchased. In addition, the talisman attracts positive energy, and the amulet protects against negative energy.

Star of David, hexagram, Solomon's seal, magendovid - the name of the six-pointed star has many, but even more, hidden and explicit meanings. The symbol adorns ancient religious and magic books, and since the middle of the twentieth century it has been the main symbol of the State of Israel.

Where did the Star of David come from?

A connection with Jewish culture was first discovered on a 7th century BC Jewish seal found in Sidon, which belonged to a certain Yeshua ben Yeshayahu. And the name "Magendovid" was first mentioned in the early Middle Ages in connection with the legendary "shield of King David", about which the grandson of the sage Ramban wrote in his work on Kabbalah in the 14th century. It was argued that the shield in the form of a hexagram protected the king himself and his soldiers in all victorious battles. According to another version, the Magendovid got its name thanks to the false messiah David Alroy, who led his troops to Jerusalem in order to recapture the city from the crusaders who ruled there. A sorcerer and mystic, Alroy made the six-pointed star a symbol of his kind and may have named it after himself.

The meaning of the Star of David

Be that as it may, since the 13th century, the Star of David appears on the walls of German synagogues, they began to decorate mezuzahs and amulets, and later on - Kabbalistic texts. However, researchers believe that Magendovid had an exclusively decorative value at that time. The very first evidence of the use of Magendovid as a specific symbol dates back to 1354. It was then that the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV granted the Prague Jews the privilege of having their own flag, which was a red cloth with a six-pointed star painted on it. Since then, Magendovid has become the main symbol of Jewish culture.

Secrets of the Russian North

This is the official version of the origin of the six-pointed star, but others are also voiced in the scientific community. For example, Vyacheslav Meshcheryakov in his publication “The Six-Pointed Star of the Polar Region” gives a report on his research in the Russian North: “... we found a couple of images of a moose man, small plastic in the form of a beautifully executed bird and ... a silver six-pointed star on a stone plate-stand. A star twenty centimeters in size was strewn with large stones of green and dark red colors ... ”The scientist is sure that during the pre-glacial period, when the climate in those places was much warmer, there was a highly developed civilization of the ancient Aryans, the progenitors of the future Indo-European culture. So, maybe the hexagram came to India from the North? It is not yet possible to answer this question unambiguously.

As for the geometry of the symbol itself, there is no consensus here either, just as there is no one in relation to any ancient sign. With a high degree of probability, it can only be argued that two combined triangles denote heaven and earth, God and man - in a word, the unity of principles that make up the universe. This is how it is interpreted in most cultures. But, for example, the Israeli researcher Uri Ophir suggests that the origin of the hexagram is associated with the temple menorah - a lamp with seven lamps. Under each lamp was placed a white lily flower, which, as you know, has six triangular petals. It turned out that the fire of the lamp burned, as it were, in the center of a six-pointed star.

Star of David - a model of the universe or the number of the beast?

In Indian culture, in particular in tantra and yoga, the six-pointed star was and remains yantra - a graphic symbol of one of the seven human chakras, namely Anahata, the heart center. This chakra is located in the spine at the level of the heart and is responsible for devotion, love, compassion and joy. In yantra, the downward-pointing triangle symbolizes the sky, and the upward-pointing triangle symbolizes the earthly origin. Therefore, the six-pointed star expresses the human essence, which is in eternal union and the struggle of the spiritual and carnal components.

The Significance of the Solomon Seal

Other ancient sources associated the hexagram with the four elements, the four cardinal points, the harmonious union of a man and a woman, and even an Angel and a Demon. Kabbalists believed that Magendovid reflects the seven lower Sephiroth - the emanations of God. And according to the eschatological interpretation, the hexagram symbolizes the number of the Beast - 666, since it has six angles, six small triangles and six sides of the inner hexagon.

Representatives of each religious or esoteric movement saw something of their own in the six-pointed star. For example, in early Christianity, the hexagram was associated with the Star of Bethlehem or with the six days of creation. With the advent of alchemy, the symbol became a graphic representation of the philosopher's stone. In Freemasonry, Magendovid was the emblem of transcendental wisdom.

The interpretation of this symbol by the German-Jewish philosopher Franz Rosenzweig deserves special mention. In his opinion, Magendovid personifies the relationship between the creator, people and reality. At the vertices of the triangle lying at the base are God, Man and the Universe. And the other triangle expresses the position of Judaism in relation to these elements. The addition of the triangles forms the "Star of Salvation."

Freedom symbol

The six-pointed star has the strongest connection with Judaism. Most Jewish communities around the world have recognized the Magendovid as one of their main symbols. And since 1840 the German poet of Jewish origin Heinrich Heine put it instead of the signature under his articles in the German newspaper Augsburger Algemeine Zeitung. Therefore, it is not surprising that in the 20th century the symbol appeared on anti-Semitic cartoons, and then the Nazis chose the Magandovids as a distinctive sign of the Jew on a yellow background. This humiliating bandage was required to be worn by all Jewish residents of the ghetto during World War II. But less than ten years have passed since the star with six rays from a brand turned into a symbol of freedom. The flag of Israel with a blue six-pointed star on a white background was officially approved on October 28, 1948.

It is noteworthy that Israel's greatest friends - the United States - also have a hexagram in their symbolism. The Star of David is featured on the Great Seal of the United States. Also, the Star of David is clearly visible in the ornament of the walls of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow and in the cross of the central dome. It is also present on icons. The symbol can be found today on the coats of arms of the German cities of Gerbsted and Cher, as well as Ukrainian ones - Konotop and Ternopil.

The Star of David (Hebrew מָגֵן דוד - Magen David, "Shield of David"; in Yiddish, Mogendovid is pronounced) is an emblem in the form of a six-pointed star (hexagram), in which two equilateral triangles are superimposed on each other: the upper one - end up, the lower - end downward, forming a structure of six equilateral triangles attached to the sides of the hexagon.

The Star of David is depicted on the flag of the State of Israel and is one of its main symbols. According to legend, this symbol was depicted on the shields of the soldiers of King David. Another version of it, a five-pointed star, a pentagram, is known under the name "Solomon's seal".

History of the symbol

In ancient times

The hexagram is an international symbol of a very ancient origin. Researchers discovered this sign in India, where it was used, apparently, long before it appeared in the Middle East and Europe. In the Middle and Near East, she was a symbol of the cult of the goddess Astarte.

Mosaic of the synagogue in ancient Shiloh

Starting from the Bronze Age (the end of the fourth - the beginning of the first millennium BC), the hexagram, like the pentagram, was widely used for decorative and magical purposes by many peoples that are so geographically distant from each other, such as the Semites of Mesopotamia and Celts of Britain. It should be noted that the pentagram was used as a magic symbol much more often than the hexagram. However, both geometric shapes can be found among the illustrations on the pages of many medieval books on alchemy, magic and sorcery.

Six-pointed star on a stone from a synagogue in Capernaum

In connection with Jewishness, the image of a six-pointed star was first discovered on a Jewish seal of the 7th century BC. BC, owned by a certain Yeshua ben Yeshayahu and found in Sidon. Many ancient synagogues, starting from the period of the Second Temple, were also decorated with similar stars. As an example, we can note the synagogue in Kfar Nachum (Capernaum) (II-III centuries AD), in the ornament of which five- and six-pointed stars alternate, as well as figures resembling a swastika. Thus, the six-pointed star during this period was not yet given a definite meaning. In addition, it is known that in the Hellenistic period this symbol was not associated with the Jews.

Mount of the Prophet Shmuel, the dilapidated remains of a synagogue.

The Star of David was usually located above the entrance.

It should be noted that the most ancient Jewish symbol at all times was the Menorah - a temple lamp. For this reason, it is also a kind of identification mark. If an image of the Menorah is found on an ancient burial, this clearly indicates that the burial is Jewish.

Middle Ages

A thousand years ago, the hexagonal star was an international sign. It was found on early Christian amulets and in Muslim ornaments called the "seal of Solomon". In Christian churches, the hexagram is found even more often than in synagogues.

Magen David on the oldest fully surviving copy

Massoretic text of the Torah, Leningrad Codex, 1008

The earliest mention of the name "Magen David" probably dates back to the era of the Babylonian Gaons (early Middle Ages). He is mentioned as the legendary "shield of King David" in the text interpreting the magical "alphabet of the angel Metatron." However, the earliest reliable source of this name is the book "Eshkol ha-Kofer" by the Karaite sage Yehuda ben Eliyahu Hadashi (XII century). In it, he criticizes those who turned this symbol into a cult object.

From this we can conclude that at that time the Star of David was used as a mystical sign on amulets. However, it should be noted that in medieval Arabic books on magic, the hexagram is found much more often than in Jewish mystical works. In addition, the hexagram is found on the flags of the Muslim states of Karaman and Kandar.

False Messiah David Alroy, who attempted a military campaign against Jerusalem in order to recapture the city from the crusaders who ruled there at that time, was considered a sorcerer and was probably from the regions that were still under the rule of the Khazars in the XII century. There is a version according to which he was the one who turned the magic symbol of the Solomon seal into the symbol of Magen David (named so, possibly in honor of himself), making it a family symbol of a kind.

In the XIII-XIV centuries, the Star of David appears on the pediments of German synagogues and on Jewish manuscripts. In the same era, they began to decorate amulets and mezuzahs, and in the late Middle Ages and Jewish texts on Kabbalah. However, apparently, this symbol had only a decorative meaning.

The grandson of Ramban (XIV century) wrote about the hexagonal "shield of David" in his work on Kabbalah. It was argued that a shield of a similar shape was used by the soldiers of the victorious army of King David.

The first evidence that the hexagram was used as a specifically Jewish symbol dates back to 1354, when Emperor Charles IV (Holy Roman Emperor) granted the Jews of Prague the privilege of having their own flag. This flag - a red panel with the image of a six-pointed star - was called the "flag of David". Magen David also decorated the official seal of the community.

New time

In cabalistic circles, the “shield of David” was interpreted as “the shield of the son of David,” that is, the Messiah. So, the followers of the false messiah Shabtai Tzvi (end of the 17th century) saw in him a symbol of imminent deliverance.

Only at the end of the 18th century. Magen David began to be depicted on Jewish tombstones.

As early as 1799, Magen David appears as a specifically Jewish symbol in anti-Semitic cartoons.

Aron Kodesh doors

In the 19th century, emancipated Jews chose the Star of David as their national symbol in opposition to the Christian cross. It was during this period that the six-pointed star was adopted by almost all communities of the Jewish world. It has become a common symbol on the buildings of synagogues and Jewish institutions, on monuments and tombstones, on seals and letterheads, on household and religious items, including on the curtains covering the cabinets in which the Torah scrolls are kept in synagogues.

Versions about the origin of Magen David

It should be noted that the exact origin of the symbol is unknown.

White Lily

According to commentators, the white lily, which consists of six petals blossoming in the form of Magen David, is the lily symbolizing the Jewish people, about which the Song of Songs speaks:

I am Sharon's daffodil, lily of the valleys! As between the thorns is a lily, so is my friend between the virgins. (Song 2: 1-2)

The Israeli researcher Uri Ophir believes that the origin of the Star of David is associated with the temple Menorah. A flower was located under each of her seven lamps. Uri Ophir believes that it was a white lily flower (Lilium candidum), which resembles Magen David in shape. The lamp was located in the center of the flower, in such a way that the priest lit the fire, as it were, in the center of Magen David. The Menorah was in the Tabernacle, during the wandering of the Jews in the desert, and then in the Jerusalem Temple, until the destruction of the Second Temple. This, in his opinion, explains the antiquity and significance of Magen David.
According to legend, Magen David was depicted on the shields of the soldiers of King David.
According to another version, the shields were made of leather and reinforced with strips of metal in the form of intersecting triangles.
According to the third version, the shields themselves were hexagonal.
It is quite possible that Magen David was, in essence, the signature of King David, since the letter "Dalet" in the ancient Hebrew script had the shape of a triangle, and the name דוד in Hebrew consists of two "Dalet". At the same time, according to some sources, his personal seal did not contain the image of a star, but of a shepherd's staff and a bag.
There is a version according to which the false messiah David Alroy (Al-Roi) was the one who, in the XII century, turned the magic symbol of the Solomon seal into the symbol Magen David (named so, possibly in honor of himself), making it the family symbol of his kind.
The followers of the false messiah Shabtai Zvi (end of the 17th century) interpreted the “shield of David” as “the shield of the son of David,” that is, the Messiah, and saw in him a symbol of imminent deliverance.

Star of David and Merkaba

The flow of prana and meridians create a prana field around our body. Then comes the aura. Aura is an egg-shaped energy field that surrounds our body and changes color depending on our thoughts, feelings and emotions. Besides the aura, we have hundreds of electromagnetic fields. They have precise geometric shapes. Each of them consists of three identical fields that have the same shape and size. Prana fields are a star tetrahedron, 3D Star of David... A person can rotate two of the three star tetrahedrons in opposite directions, using ancient prana breathing techniques and creating a huge 17-meter energy field - the body of light, the Merkabu.

Merkaba

Opinions about the significance of Magen David

The most common explanation for the hexagram is that it is a combination and combination of masculine (upward pointing triangle) and feminine (downward pointing triangle) principles.
In ancient times, Magen David was believed to personify all four elements: a triangle facing upwards symbolizes fire and air, while another triangle, facing downwards, symbolizes water and earth.
According to another version, the upper corner of the triangle facing upwards symbolizes fire, the other two (left and right) symbolize water and air. The corners of another triangle, one of the corners facing down, respectively: mercy, peace (calm) and grace.
Also, Magen David is a combination of the heavenly principle, which tends to the earth (a triangle directed downward) and the earthly principle, aspiring to the heavens (a triangle directed upward).
According to one explanation, the six-pointed Star of David symbolizes the Divine government of the entire world: earth, sky and four cardinal points - north, south, east and west. (An interesting detail: the Hebrew word for "Magen David" (Hebrew מָגֵן דָּוִד) also consists of six letters.)
According to Kabbalah, Magen David reflects the seven lower Sephiroth: each of the six triangles points to one of the Sephiroth, and the hexagonal center to Sephira "Malchut".

Safed. Stained glass six-pointed star in the window

According to R. E. Essas, this sign symbolizes 6 days of creation and reflects the model of the universe. Two triangles - two directions. A triangle pointing upwards: the top point indicates the Supreme and that He is one. Further, the divergence of this point to the left and to the right indicates the opposites that have appeared in the process of creation - Good and Evil. The point of the second triangle of the Star of David is directed downward. From two distant tops, the lines converge to one - the lower, the third. This is the idea of the purpose of human existence, whose task is to harmoniously combine in itself (the lower peak) concepts generated by the idea of the existence of the “right” and “left” sides of the created world.
There is a tradition to decorate Magen David with a sukkah - a special hut in which Jews live during the Sukkot holiday. The six points of the star hung in the sukkah correspond to the six "high guests" (ushpizin) who visit the Jewish sukkah in the first six days of the Sukkot holiday: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron and Joseph. The seventh “guest” unites them all - King David himself.

"Star of Salvation" by Rosenzweig

Magen David has 12 ribs, which corresponds to the 12 tribes of Israel, over which David reigned and which will be restored with the coming of the Messiah, the direct heir of King David.
The eminent German-Jewish philosopher Franz Rosenzweig, in his main philosophical work "The Star of Salvation" (1921), offered his own interpretation of Magen David. He sees Magen David as a symbolic expression of the relationship between God, man and the universe. The triangle underlying, in his opinion, personifies three main subjects considered by philosophy: God, Man and the Universe. The other reflects the position of Judaism in relation to these elements and their relationship between themselves - Creation (between God and the Universe), Revelation (between God and Man) and Deliverance (between Man and the Universe). The superposition of these triangles on top of each other forms the "Star of Salvation".

Use as a Hebrew character

The Rothschild family, having received the title of nobility in 1817, included Magen David in their family coat of arms.

Coat of arms of the Rothschild family

(six-pointed star at the top left)

Since 1840, the German poet of Jewish origin Heinrich Heine has put a hexagram instead of a signature under his articles in the German newspaper Augsburger Algemeine Zeitung.

Much "merit" in forever associating the six-pointed star with the Jews belongs to the Nazis. In many cities and countries of Europe, the Nazi authorities chose the yellow Magen David as a distinctive sign of the Jew. This emblem separated the Jews from the local population and served as a humiliating stigma in their eyes.

Yellow Star of David

In addition, the Star of David was used as an identification mark for certain categories of prisoners of Nazi concentration camps, while often (but not always) one of the two triangles forming it was made of a different color, depending on the category of the prisoner, for example, for political prisoners - red, for emigrants - blue , for homosexuals - pink, for persons deprived of the right to a profession - green, for the so-called "asocial elements" - black, etc.

At the same time, in the USA and Great Britain they saw in Magen David a Jewish symbol, similar to the Christian cross, and for this reason they depicted Magen David on the graves of Jewish soldiers who died in the ranks of the Allied armies, just as the graves of Christians are marked with a cross.

The yellow Star of David against a background of two blue stripes, with a white stripe in the middle, served as the emblem of the Jewish brigade, which was part of the British army during World War II. Perhaps the authors of this symbol thereby wanted to turn the yellow star of the Nazis into a source of pride.
After the creation of the State of Israel, it was decided to take the flag of the Zionist movement, in the center of which is the blue Magen David, as the state flag.

The Provisional Government of Israel adopted the decision of the Emblem and Flag Commission and approved it on October 28, 1948. This is how the blue Star of David became the symbol of the State of Israel. At the same time, a more authentic and ancient Jewish emblem, the Menorah, the image of a temple lamp, was chosen as the coat of arms.

Israel flag

Other countries

Synagogue in Karlsruhe in the form of Magen David

bird's-eye

State symbols of the United States contain the Six Pointed Star in various modifications, for example, the Great Seal of the United States.
The Star of David is depicted on the coats of arms of the German cities of Cher and Gerbstedt, as well as the Ukrainian Ternopil and Konotop.
Three six-pointed stars are featured on the Burundi flag. They embody the national motto: “Unity. Job. Progress.".

One of the rabbis answering the following questions:

“Does Magen-David or the hexagram have anything to do with King David? What is the secret meaning of this sign? When did it become a specifically Jewish symbol? Is he a cabalistic sign? ”Explains:

“The hexagram is an international symbol of a very ancient origin. It was used in India long before it appeared in the East and Europe. Initially, the hexagram was not a specifically Jewish symbol. In the Middle and Near East, she was a symbol of the cult of the goddess Astarte. And in Mecca, the main Muslim shrine - the black stone of the Kaaba - has been traditionally covered with a silk veil, on which hexagonal stars are depicted, from century to century .. The reason for this is a topic for special research. However, it has already been repeatedly noted that not only in Russia, but also in many other countries, people who are considered non-Jews, in fact, turn out to be involved in one way or another with the people of Israel. For example, Magen David is depicted on the grave of the mother of the first magnitude rock star Elvis Presley.

Magen David, the temple lamp, has been a truly Jewish symbol throughout the ages; in addition, it is also a kind of identification mark. If an image of the Menorah is found on an ancient burial, this clearly indicates that the burial is Jewish.

The hexagram, unlike the Menorah, has become a Jewish symbol relatively recently, and its wide distribution is explained by the desire of the Jews to find a simple symbol for Judaism, similar to those adopted by other religions. When, in the mass consciousness, it became a specific Jewish attribute, there were many who wanted to religiously and mystically comprehend its use.

At the end of the 17th century. Jewish cabalists interpreted the hexagram as “the shield of the son of David,” that is, the Messiah. However, in medieval Arabic books on magic, the hexagram is found much more often than in Jewish mystical works.

Interestingly, as an amulet or a detail of an ornament, the hexagram appears not only in Muslim cemeteries, it can also be found on the graves of Russian noblemen of the 19th century.

In the Middle Ages, the hexagram is more often found in Christian churches than in synagogues. Moreover, almost all documents say that the use of the hexagram in the early period was limited to "practical Kabbalah", i.e. Jewish magic, leading its origin, apparently, from the 6th century A.D. In some legends, the six-pointed star is associated with the "seal of Solomon" - a magic ring with a seal, thanks to which King Solomon could control demons and spirits. It is believed that the four-letter Name of the Almighty - Tetragrammaton was carved on the ring of Solomon, but on medieval amulets imitating the seal of Solomon, as a rule, a six- or five-pointed star was depicted surrounded by roaring lions, which symbolized the Name of God.

Synagogue chandelier

The star on these amulets was usually called "the seal of Solomon". In addition to the ring of King Solomon, medieval Jewish Kabbalistic texts are also known, in which the magic shield of King David is mentioned, which protected him from enemies. These texts say that 72 letters were inscribed on David's shield, making up the Name of the Most High, or the name of Shaddai, or the names of the angels. According to legend, this shield later ended up in Judas Maccabee's.

Some scholars have attempted to trace the Star of David to the time of King David, the uprising of Bar Kochba (Son of the Star) and Kabbalists, especially Yitzhak Lurie, who lived in the 16th century, however, there is no evidence that would indicate such an early origin of this symbol as it was Jewish, they did not find it. Moreover, almost all documents say that the use of the hexagram in the early period was limited to "practical Kabbalah", i.e. Jewish magic, leading its origin, apparently, from the 6th century AD.

In Kabbalah, two triangles symbolize the duality inherent in man: good versus evil, spiritual versus physical, and so on. The triangle pointing upwards symbolizes our good deeds that ascend to heaven and cause a stream of grace descending back into this world (which is symbolized by the triangle pointing downwards). Sometimes the Star of David is called the Star of the Creator and each of its six ends is associated with one of the days of the week, and the center with Saturday.

Kabbalist Isaac Aram, who lived in the 15th century, claimed that the 67th Psalm was inscribed on the shield of David in the form of a menorah, known as the "Psalm of the Menorah" because it consists of seven lines, not counting the introductory line. Another legend says that a six-pointed star was carved on the shield, at the tops of which were inscribed six properties of the Most High, mentioned by the prophet Isaiah: "And the Spirit of the Lord, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of advice and strength, the spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord will descend on him." Over time, the menorah symbol on the shield of David was replaced in folk legends with a six-pointed star, and the seal of Solomon became associated with a five-pointed star. The hexagram was also perceived as a messianic symbol, since it was believed to be associated with King David - the ancestor of the Messiah.

On the Sabbath eve, German Jews often lit a copper star-shaped lamp, which they called Judenstern, the Jewish star. There is a definite connection here between the six-pointed star and the Messianic era, of which the Sabbath is the herald. For the same reason, the six-pointed star was very popular among the followers of Shabtai Tzvi, posing as the Messiah (17th century). Jewish mystics and miracle workers most often chose a six-pointed star as a protective sign from evil forces, placing it on mezuzahs and amulets.

In the book of the Jewish philosopher, historian of religion and mysticism Gershom Scholem, published 27 years after his death, the researcher of Jewish mysticism suggested that the Star of David, which, as you know, is considered to be the oldest Jewish symbol, is in fact a magical emblem that became worshiped by Jews only in the 19th century.

Holy Trinity Cathedral of the MP of St. Petersburg

Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow - the main temple of the MP

It has become a universal Jewish symbol only since 1354, when the Czech king Charles IV granted the Jewish community of Prague the privilege of having its own flag: the flag was red, and on it was the "shield of David". The Jews of Prague saw in this sign a symbol of ancient greatness, when King David allegedly wore a hexagram on his shield. This emblem was widely depicted on Prague synagogues, books, religious and household utensils.

As a decorative element, the "shield of David" was widespread in the Middle Ages in Muslim and Christian countries. The magical power of the "shield of David" was not originally associated with the hexagram. It is even difficult to say whether it originated in Islam, where David was credited with the invention of defensive weapons, or in Jewish mysticism.

The Arabs used the hexagram as an ornamental element, as well as in magic, and they knew it under the name "seal of Solomon" - the king, whose name is associated with a large number of myths and legends. His greatness and wisdom were revered not only in Palestine, but also in Europe, Abyssinia, Persia, Afghanistan and Arabia. According to tradition, after the end of his earthly life, King Solomon was ascended into the sun, where he ruled over a huge kingdom of elves, fairies, jinn and warriors, shining with dazzling light. All of them were obedient to Solomon and obeyed him unconditionally, because he had power over them with the help of his seal. It is reliably known that already in the 6th century in Christian circles Byzantine amulets with the "seal of Solomon" were known.

Facade of Beit Hadassah Hospital in Hebron.

The six-pointed stars ornament is formed

three kinds of parallel lines.

King David of Israel (1005-970 BC) belonged to the number of those chosen natures who inevitably attract the sympathy of everyone with whom they come in contact, and before whose charm nothing can resist. At the age of 25, he was invited to serve as a masterful lyre musician by King Saul of Israel. Prior to joining the service, David was his father's shepherd. Saul's servants sought him out and brought him to the king. Soon after his appearance at court, David enchants one after another, first the king, and then the courtiers, and the son and daughter of Saul. This was too much for the suspicious Saul. He begins to fear for his throne and in a short time turns into his worst enemy. Learning about his daughter's love for David, he tries to make a weapon out of her to destroy David. To this end, he promises David his daughter, but only on condition that David, according to Saul, will not be able to fulfill. He demands that David, as a wedding ransom for Michal, bring circumcisions to the 100 Philistines he killed who inhabited the territory of Israel even before the arrival of the Jews. Against expectation, David emerges from this ordeal unharmed. Saul keeps his word and gives his daughter Michal to David, who has already become famous in the battles with the Philistines. Nevertheless, the suspicious and sickly Saul decides to get rid of his successful son-in-law and begins to persecute him. David manages to get away from Saul's army with a detachment of 600 people. With these 600 adherents, using his unique diplomatic gift, he enters into an alliance, and, it would seem, unheard of ... with the Philistines. David was playing a very dangerous game, as it were, between two fires. At this time, the king of the Philistines, Achim, begins a campaign against Israel. However, David contrives not to participate in the war against his people. The Philistines win the battle against Saul, his army is defeated and fled. In this battle, three of Saul's sons are killed, and he himself throws himself on his own sword. The Philistines continued to consider David their vassal, but they overlooked the extraordinary political wisdom of David, who at that moment managed to lead Israel, relying on his detachment of 600! warriors. By the way, David's military tactics were based on a principle that had passed thousands of years of testing. The first detachment of 400 people conducted offensive operations (it is interesting that the modern shock detachment - a battalion, has exactly 400 people), and the second detachment of 200 people, David introduced at the most difficult moment of the battle. Namely, this tactic led him to numerous victories.

It is likely that, creating the coat of arms of his state: a hexagonal star, he proceeded from the figure that saved him - 6!

DNA strand model - the main carrier

human genetic code.

In addition to analogs of the Star of David at the molecular level of the DNA structure, there is a simpler option - a chemical model, and also at the molecular level.

Mollekul of benzene - the main energy carrier of oil -

is a complete analogue of the Star of David.

Snowflakes

Star of David and the Age of Aquarius

The Age of Aquarius officially came on January 23, 1997 at 5:35 pm (GMT). If you draw up an astrological map of Jerusalem for this moment, you get perfect Star of David! What does it mean? Nobody knows for sure, but it's an amazing coincidence!

In contact with

The top one is top up, the bottom one is top down, forming a structure of six equilateral triangles attached to the sides of the hexagon. According to legend, this symbol received the name "Star of David" because it was depicted on the shields of warriors. Another version of it, a five-pointed star, a pentagram, is known under the name "Solomon's seal". Nevertheless, the connection of this symbol with the name of King David, as well as the five-pointed star with the name of King Solomon, is most likely attributed to the late Middle Ages. The Star of David is depicted on the State of Israel and is one of its main symbols.

History of the symbol

In ancient times

The hexagram is an international symbol of a very ancient origin. This sign is found in India, where it was used, apparently, long before it appeared in the Middle East and Europe. Initially, the hexagram was not a specifically Jewish symbol and had nothing to do with Judaism. In the Middle and Near East, she was a symbol of the cult of the goddess Astarte.

Since the Bronze Age (the end of the fourth - the beginning of the first millennium BC), the hexagram, like the pentagram, has been widely used for decorative and magical purposes by many peoples that are so geographically distant from each other, such as the Semites of Mesopotamia and Celts of Britain.

It should be noted that the pentagram was used as a magic symbol much more often than the hexagram. However, both geometric shapes can be found among the illustrations on the pages of many medieval books on alchemy, magic and sorcery. The connection with the Jewry of the image of the six-pointed star was first discovered on the Jewish seal of the 7th century. BC, owned by a certain Yeshua ben Yeshayahu and found in Sidon. Many ancient synagogues, starting from the period of the Second Temple, were also decorated with similar stars. As an example, we can note the synagogue in Kfar Nachum (Capernaum) (II-III centuries AD), in the ornament of which five- and six-pointed stars alternate, as well as figures resembling a swastika.

Thus, the six-pointed star during this period was not yet given a definite meaning. In addition, it is known that in the Hellenistic period this symbol was not associated with the Jews. It should be noted that the menorah, the temple lamp, is considered a truly Jewish symbol. For this reason, it is also a kind of identification mark. If an image of a menorah is found on an ancient burial, this clearly indicates that the burial is Jewish.

Middle Ages

A thousand years ago, the hexagonal star was an international sign. She was found on early Christian amulets and in Muslim ornaments called the "seal of Solomon". In Christian churches, the hexagram is found even more often than in synagogues. Magen David on the oldest, completely preserved copy of the Masoretic text of the Torah, the Leningrad Codex, 1008. The earliest mention of the name “Magen David” probably dates back to the Babylonian Gaons (early Middle Ages). He is mentioned as the legendary "shield of King David" in the text interpreting the magical "alphabet of the angel Metatron."

However, the earliest reliable source of this name is the book "Eshkol ha-Kofer" by the Karaite sage Yehuda ben Eliyahu Hadashi (XII century). In it, he criticizes those who turned this symbol into a cult object. From this we can conclude that at that time the Star of David was used as a mystical sign on amulets. However, it should be noted that in medieval Arabic books on magic, the hexagram is found much more often than in Jewish mystical works. In addition, the hexagram is found on the flags of the Muslim states of Karaman and Kandar. The false messiah David Alroy, who attempted a military campaign against Jerusalem in order to recapture the city from the crusaders who ruled there at that time, was considered a sorcerer and was probably from the regions that were still under the rule of the Khazars in the 12th century. There is a version according to which he was the one who turned the magic symbol of the Solomon seal into the symbol of Magen David (named so, possibly in honor of himself), making it a family symbol of a kind. In the XIII-XIV centuries. The Star of David appears on the pediments of German synagogues and on Jewish manuscripts. In the same era, they began to decorate amulets and, and in the late Middle Ages, and Jewish texts on Kabbalah. However, apparently, this symbol had only a decorative meaning. The grandson of Ramban (XIV century) wrote about the hexagonal "shield of David" in his work on Kabbalah. It was argued that a shield of a similar shape was used by the soldiers of the victorious army of King David. The first evidence that the hexagram was used as a specifically Jewish symbol dates back to 1354, when Emperor Charles IV (Holy Roman Emperor) granted the Jews of Prague the privilege of having their own flag. This flag - a red panel with the image of a six-pointed star - was called the "flag of David". Magen David also decorated the official seal of the community.

New time

Subsequently, the hexagram was used as a Hebrew typographic sign and an integral part of family coats of arms. In the Czech Republic of that period, it was possible to find a six-pointed star as a decorative element in synagogues, books, on official seals, on religious and household utensils. Later (XVII-XVIII centuries) the hexagram came into the everyday life of the Jews of Moravia and Austria, and then Italy and the Netherlands. Somewhat later, it spread among the communities of Eastern Europe. In cabalistic circles, the “shield of David” was interpreted as “the shield of the son of David,” that is, the Messiah. So, the followers of the false messiah Shabtai Tzvi (end of the 17th century) saw in him a symbol of imminent deliverance. Only at the end of the 18th century. Magen David began to be depicted on Jewish tombstones. As early as 1799, Magen David appears as a specifically Jewish symbol in anti-Semitic cartoons. In the XIX century. emancipated Jews chose the Star of David as a national symbol in opposition to the Christian cross. It was during this period that the six-pointed star was adopted by almost all communities of the Jewish world. It has become a common symbol on the buildings of synagogues and Jewish institutions, on monuments and tombstones, on seals and letterheads, on household and religious items, including on the curtains covering the cabinets in which the Torah scrolls are kept in synagogues.

Versions about the origin of Magen David

It should be noted that the exact origin of the symbol is unknown.

According to commentators, the white lily, which consists of six petals blossoming in the form of Magen David, is the lily symbolizing the Jewish people, about which the Song of Songs speaks:

“I am Sharon's daffodil, lily of the valleys! As there is a lily between the thorns, so is my friend between the virgins. " (Song 2: 1-2)

The Israeli researcher Uri Ophir believes that the origin of the Star of David is associated with the temple menorah. A flower was located under each of her seven lamps. Uri Ophir believes that it was a white lily flower (Lilium candidum), which resembles Magen David in shape.

The lamp was located in the center of the flower, in such a way that the priest lit the fire, as it were, in the center of Magen David. The Menorah was in the Tabernacle, during the wandering of the Jews in the desert, and then in, until the destruction of the Second Temple. This, in his opinion, explains the antiquity and significance of Magen David.

According to legend, Magen David was depicted on the shields of the soldiers of King David.
According to another version, the shields were made of leather and reinforced with strips of metal in the form of intersecting triangles.
According to the third version, the shields themselves were hexagonal.
It is quite possible that Magen David was, in essence, the signature of King David, since the letter "Dalet" in the ancient Hebrew script had the shape of a triangle, and the name דוד in Hebrew consists of two "Dalet". At the same time, according to some sources, his personal seal did not contain the image of a star, but of a shepherd's staff and a bag.
There is a version according to which the false messiah David Alroy (Al-Roi) was the one who in the XII century. transformed the magic symbol of the Solomon seal into the symbol of Magen David (named so, perhaps in honor of himself), making it a family symbol of a kind.
The followers of the false messiah Shabtai Zvi (end of the 17th century) interpreted the “shield of David” as “the shield of the son of David,” that is, the Messiah, and saw in him a symbol of imminent deliverance.

Opinions about the significance of Magen David

The hexagram is interpreted as a connection and combination of masculine (upward pointing triangle) and feminine (downward pointing triangle) principles.
In ancient times, Magen David was believed to personify all four elements: a triangle facing upwards symbolizes fire and air, while another triangle, facing downwards, symbolizes water and earth.
According to another version, the upper corner of the triangle facing upwards symbolizes fire, the other two (left and right) symbolize water and air. The corners of another triangle, one of the corners facing down, respectively: mercy, peace (calm) and grace.
Also, Magen David is a combination of the heavenly principle, which tends to the earth (a triangle directed downward) and the earthly principle, aspiring to the heavens (a triangle directed upward).
According to one explanation, the six-pointed Star of David symbolizes the Divine government of the entire world: earth, sky and four cardinal points - north, south, east and west. (An interesting detail: the Hebrew word for "Magen David" (Hebrew מָגֵן דָּוִד) also consists of six letters.)
According to Kabbalah, Magen David reflects the seven lower Sephiroth: each of the six triangles points to one of the Sephiroth, and the hexagonal center to Sephira "Malchut".
According to R. E. Essas, this sign symbolizes 6 days of creation and reflects the model of the universe. Two triangles - two directions. A triangle pointing upwards: the top point indicates the Supreme and that He is one. Further, the divergence of this point to the left and to the right indicates the opposites that have appeared in the process of creation - Good and Evil. The point of the second triangle of the Star of David is directed downward. From two distant tops, the lines converge to one - the lower, the third. This is the idea of the purpose of human existence, whose task is to harmoniously combine in itself (the lower peak) concepts generated by the idea of the existence of the “right” and “left” sides of the created world.
There is a tradition to decorate Magen David with a sukkah - a special hut in which Jews live during the Sukkot holiday. The six points of the star hung in the sukkah correspond to the six "high guests" (ushpizin) who visit the Jewish sukkah in the first six days of the Sukkot holiday: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron and Joseph. The seventh “guest” unites them all - King David himself.

The triangle underlying, in his opinion, personifies three main subjects considered by philosophy: God, Man and the Universe. The other reflects the position of Judaism in relation to these elements and their relationship between themselves - Creation (between God and the Universe), Revelation (between God and Man) and Deliverance (between Man and the Universe). The superposition of these triangles on top of each other forms the "Star of Salvation".

Photo gallery

Useful information

Star of David
Hebrew מָגֵן דָּוִד
transliteration. Magen David
lit. "Shield of David"
in Yiddish pronoun: mogendovid

Use as a Hebrew character

The family, having received the title of nobility in 1817, included Magen David in their family coat of arms.
Since 1840, the German poet of Jewish origin Heinrich Heine has put a hexagram instead of a signature under his articles in the German newspaper Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung.
In 1879, in the Russian Empire, the authorities convened a large symposium of rabbis in St. Petersburg, where they were asked seven questions about the foundations of Judaism. One of the questions was about the significance of Magen David.
In 1897, he adopted the draft flag of the Zionist movement, in the center of which was the blue Magen David and which is known today as the flag of the State of Israel.
, the leader of the Zionist movement, proposed another option in his book "The Jewish State": a white flag with seven gold stars in the center, but his proposal was not accepted, mainly due to the absence of Jewish symbols on his flag.
In the same year, the six-pointed star also graced the cover of the first issue of the magazine "Di Welt", published by Herzl.
Heavyweight boxer Max Baer, who played in the ring in the 30s, had Jewish roots (not being Jewish by religion), and entered the ring with the Star of David on his underpants when boxing with German Max Schmelling.
Much "merit" in forever associating the six-pointed star with the Jews belongs to the Nazis. In many cities and countries of Europe, the Nazi authorities chose the yellow Magen David as a distinctive sign of the Jew. This emblem separated the Jews from the local population and served as a humiliating stigma in their eyes. In addition, the Star of David was used as an identification mark for certain categories of prisoners of Nazi concentration camps, while often (but not always) one of the two triangles forming it was made of a different color depending on the category of the prisoner, for example, for political prisoners - red, for emigrants - blue , for homosexuals - pink, for persons deprived of the right to a profession - green, for the so-called "asocial elements" - black, etc.
At the same time, in the USA and Great Britain they saw in Magen David a Jewish symbol, similar to the Christian cross, and for this reason they depicted Magen David on the graves of Jewish soldiers who died in the ranks of the Allied armies, just as the graves of Christians are marked with a cross.
The yellow Star of David against a background of two blue stripes, with a white stripe in the middle, served as the emblem of the Jewish brigade, which was part of the British army during World War II. Perhaps the authors of this symbol thereby wanted to turn the yellow star of the Nazis into a source of pride.
After the creation of the State of Israel, it was decided to take the flag of the Zionist movement, in the center of which is the blue Magen David, as the state flag.
The Provisional Government of Israel adopted the decision of the Commission of the Coat of Arms and the Flag and approved it on October 28, 1948. This is how the blue Star of David became the symbol of the State of Israel. At the same time, a more authentic and ancient Jewish emblem, the Menorah, the image of a temple lamp, was chosen as the coat of arms.
Israeli Arabs argue that they cannot feel solidarity with the national flag, since it is composed only of Jewish symbols.
Members of the Jewish anti-Zionist sect "Neturei Karta" stopped using Magen David, as he, according to them, is now associated with the Zionist state.
In 1930, the Jewish emergency medical organization Magen David Adom was established in Tel Aviv.
The name and emblem - a six-pointed red star on a white background - of the Israeli Society for the Provision of Emergency Medicine (similar to the names and emblems of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies).
In 1950 Magen David Adom was officially recognized by the State of Israel. However, he did not receive international recognition, since the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent refused to recognize Magen David as another symbol of an international organization.
In late 2005, as a result of the efforts of Israeli diplomats and representatives of the American Red Cross, the International Committee of the Red Cross proposed a draft of the third, "religiously neutral" symbol - the red diamond ("red crystal"). It was decided that a country not wishing to use a cross or crescent would be able to use a diamond or a local emblem enclosed in a red diamond. Thus, the International Committee of the Red Cross agreed to accept the Israeli organization into its ranks, however, it was conditioned by the fact that the emblem of the Red Magen David will remain in use only on the territory of Israel, while outside it it will be enclosed in a red diamond.
The Israel Defense Forces emblem is also based on the Star of David.

Other countries

State symbols of the United States contain the Six Pointed Star in various modifications, for example, the Great Seal of the United States.
The Star of David is depicted on the coats of arms of the German cities of Cher, Hamburg and Herbstedt, as well as the Ukrainian cities of Poltava, Ternopil and Konotop.
Three six-pointed stars are featured on the Burundi flag. They embody the national motto: “Unity. Job. Progress".
Magen David is featured on the Colonial Flag of Nigeria (1914-60).
Previously, the flags of Northern Ireland had a six-pointed star in the center (on the flag of the British Governor of Northern Ireland it is an element of the heraldic shield, on the Ulster Banner it is an independent central symbol).

The symbol, which today many know exclusively as a sign of the Jewish people, has a long history. Its roots go back to the Bronze Age and give hundreds of interpretations and interpretations. In some cultures, it was considered a symbol of spiritual and physical principles, in others it played the role of a magical amulet. To understand the various variations, you need to make a deep excursion into the history of religions and peoples, trace the path of the formation of the "Star of David" symbol, find its meaning.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW! Fortune teller Baba Nina:"There will always be plenty of money if you put it under the pillow ..." Read more >>

What it is?

The emblem in the form of a six-pointed star (hexagram), where two triangles are turned in different directions, and the bases are connected, is called the "Star of David" or "Shield of David". In Hebrew, it is pronounced "Magen David". Now it is perceived exclusively as a Jewish sign, a symbol of Judaism and the State of Israel, but its history is not so unambiguous. The first mentions of the symbol are found in rock art of the Bronze Age, this is the first millennium BC. NS. Crossed equivalent triangles were widely used in ritual and witchcraft rituals among many peoples of the Middle East. Various magical properties have been attributed to the sign, it is often found in books on alchemy and sorcery.

The oldest image of the hexagram was found on the seal of the 7th century BC. NS. in a temple belonging to Yehoshua ben Asayahu, buried in Sidon. From here begins a deeper study of the meaning of the sign. Some historians believe that he performed a special function of protecting the peace of the deceased, others that the sign is needed only as a decorative element. The latter are based on the fact that no widespread ritual use of the star was found in that era; it was used to decorate handicrafts and structures.

The hexagonal figure is found not only in Judaism. In India, it is considered the sign of one of the chakras - Anahatu, representing the union of the masculine and feminine. Here it spread long before other countries and nationalities. In Buddhism, it was used in meditation and refers to the symbols of sacred geometry. Here it denotes the balance of peace and chaos, represents the correct interpretation of the cosmos, its components, and the human soul in these practices is mentally placed in the center of the lines. In some eastern regions, the sign of crossed triangles was associated with the goddess Ishtar.

In Islam, a Muslim writes this figure with his body during prayer. The image of two equilateral triangles is drawn in a standing position with a bow, this is the upper triangle, and a low bow to the ground forms the second.

The original reason why the mark came to be considered Jewish is unknown. Some researchers make a connection with an older, exclusively Jewish symbol - "menorah". This is a temple lamp that adorned the burials of Jews in Palestine. Later they began to decorate synagogues. In addition to this, there is a version that connects the symbol directly with King David. He used the star as a symbol of his kind, since his name had two letters that were drawn in the form of triangles. The figure served as his monogram. According to the historian Peter Schmelling, a staff with a bag was depicted on the personal seal of the ruler.

Another common version is considered to be the one that connects the figure with the false prophet Menachem ben Roy or David Alroy. In the XII century, the lands of Israel were under the occupation of the Khazars, Alroy, having decided to start a liberation war, laid siege to the Amadi fortress, located in northern Kurdistan. After these events, the six-pointed star becomes the Jewish national symbol. According to one version, it was applied to the shields of warriors, according to another, it was specifically fastened with belts to armor in the form of metal triangles forming a star.

There are many interpretations of the meaning of the symbol, the most common are:

A star is a plexus of two principles: masculine (the triangle is directed downward) and feminine (the triangle is directed upward).
Combination of earth and space. That is, the spiritual principle of man, which is represented by the cosmos, and his bodily form, indicated by the earth.
The designation of the four elements. The upward-facing triangle is fire and air, the downward-facing triangle is water and earth.
Designation of the four senses. The upper triangle is rage and cruelty, the lower one is peace and compassion.
Symbolizes the model of the universe. All angles of the star represent the days during which the Lord created the world. The lower corners represent: Earth, plants and animals, and the upper corners represent light, solar heat and air. The person is placed in the center of the triangle.

Middle Ages

In the Middle Ages, the star was widely used in Europe. French, Germanic, Scandinavian and Portuguese scribes of various faiths used the signs of the hexagram and pentagram as elements of seals. The hexagram can be found in Christian churches in a slightly modified form, where it is part of the ornament. It was applied to the amulets of the knights and it was called the "Seal of King Solomon". It was this name that became widespread in medieval Europe, as it had a very vivid legend of origin. According to this legend, Solomon defeated 72 demon-prince and locked them in a copper vessel. He received complete power over them and used them for his own purposes. He learned many secrets and thanks to this he won battles and remained alive.

The amulet with the image of the "seal of Solomon" was considered protective. They believed that he could save from evil spirits and magic. Since the star, according to legends, was depicted on the shield, the sign, as before, is one of the symbols that can protect not only from various problems, but also from enemy weapons and attempts on life. Medieval occultists believed that such an amulet, worn under a shirt, reveals to its owner the secrets of the past, present and future. Masonic society considered the sign a symbol of wisdom, and alchemists attributed the meaning of immortality to it.

However, in the esoteric works of the Jews, this symbol is found less often than in the Arab books of the same era, and the first images of the hexagram appear precisely in Muslim countries. It is also applied to the flags of the Islamic states of Kandar and Karaman. Later, in the XIII-XIV centuries, the star appears on the facades of Germanic churches, as a reference to early Christian Judaism, and has a rather decorative character.

"Star of David" in Christianity

In the Christian denomination, the "Star of David" denotes the union in Christ of human and divine nature. The six-pointed figure graphically depicts the saying: "God became man so that man becomes God" ("God became man" - the triangle is down; "For man to become God" - the triangle is raised with its apex up).

Combining, these two symbols form a hexagram. In Orthodoxy, it is a symbol of Jesus Christ. That is why this sign is often inscribed in crosses on Russian Orthodox churches. It can be seen on the icon of the Kursk Mother of God, in the ancient monasteries of Athos. She is depicted on the threshold of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. The ideologists of Talmudic Judaism and Zionism, choosing a symbol for the newly formed state, settled on this star in the 18th – 19th centuries, because it had no direct Jewish meaning in the past, it acquired it during the war years and the period preceding it. The star itself is not exclusively a symbol of Judaism and Zionism, as the broad masses believe. The six-pointed star also belongs to ancient Christian symbols, and in the culture and architecture of the Middle Ages it was widely used in temples, was used to decorate sacred vessels and icons.

"Magen David" means - "The Coming of the Savior". But if for Judaism this "savior" is the coming Antichrist, then for Orthodox Christianity it is the already come Savior Jesus Christ. Since the star of Bethlehem is the star of David (from whose family Jesus comes), which shone in Bethlehem over the city and led the Magi to the Son of God, it is the star of the Savior.

The meaning of the symbol in magic

In ritual and magical symbolism, this sign is present in several different variations, which are similar in appearance, but have additional elements that radically change their meaning:

1. Tetragram of Kabbalah. Here the six-pointed star is inscribed in a perfect circle. The upward pointing triangle represents God, while the downward pointing triangle represents Satan. The circle depicts the world in which the struggle between good and evil takes place.
2. "The sign of the six sixes". Shown is a hexagram with sixes inscribed in each corner. The seal reveals the magic number 666, which is considered the "number of the Beast", as mentioned in "Revelation".
3. Solomon's seal of the Masonic society. Two triangles, black and white, depicting Alpha and Omega, the foundations of the creation of the world.

Various branches of Christianity have their own ideas about the meaning of the "seal of Solomon" and its application. Most often, the sign is used to scare away demons and evil spirits. It is believed that a demon who has fallen into the center of the sacred hexagram becomes powerless.

Catholic priests-exorcists in the 18th century, during the ritual of exile, painted this symbol with oil on the forehead of the "possessed", saying prayers in Latin. The "possessed" themselves fell into a rampage, began to shout loudly and even spoke in voices that were not characteristic of themselves. It was from the Catholic Church that the wide spread of the symbol began as a weapon and protection from evil spirits. In astrology, the symbol means a violent combination in a person of two principles, fire and earth, calmness and fury.

Use of the "Star of David" as a Hebrew symbol

One of the first noble families in Europe, the Rothschilds depicted this sign on their family coat of arms, making a reference to the ancestors of the family of Jewish nationality. In the United States since the end of the 19th century, due to the presence of a huge Jewish diaspora, the symbol is increasingly used in burials. He adorns tombstones like a Christian cross.

A huge, albeit tragic role was played by the German Nazis in the 30s - 40s of the XX century. During World War II, the yellow "Star of David" became a sign that distinguished Jews from other nationalities. The policy of the Third Reich was aimed at exterminating the Jews as a nation, and therefore hanging a yellow bandage meant a death sentence. In contrast to this, in the ranks of the British army there was a separate fighting detachment, consisting entirely of Jews, and it was he who used the "yellow star". This was perceived as a confrontation not only on the battlefield, but also spiritual, which was led by the Jewish people, fighting for their existence. After the end of the war, the symbol was often depicted on the graves of soldiers who died on the battlefields. So the Jews wanted to turn this sign into an object of national pride and a sign of courage. Subsequently, the emblem of the Israel National Defense Army was based on the "Star of David".

The hexagram, as a symbol, has a thousand-year history, and is rooted in the chronicle of times, in the earliest eras of mankind. Its ritual meaning has many meanings and is used by many peoples, which speaks of its internationality.