Akbar’s shield with Solomon’s seal

This metal shield (click the link) with the zodiac Signs and with Solomon’s Seal framing the date 1594, belonged to the Moghul emperor Akbar (1542 –1605) and it is presented in the British Museum. On the web page of The disciples of Bhagawan Shri Lahari Krishna they write that the hexagram is known for almost all the Hindus in India as a symbol of the arrival of their king, who would unite them and rebuild the Indian nation. The authors of this page go on and tell us that Akbar’s shield reflects this messianic belief, since he put this six-pointed star near Pisces believing that the Indian Messiah is expected to come in February.

This messianic belief (assocated to the hexagram) is amazingly similar to the the Jewish and the Christian messianic beliefs - so the question is where exactly did this belief originate?

Abundance of Solomon Seals in Kyrgyzstan

Picture is courtesy of “retlaw snellac” from Flickr who shot it at Babur's House in Osh.  The decoration on this wall is full of Solomon seals, and what’s interesting here is the connection to King Solomon, since (as “retlaw snellac” mentions under the picture):

1. There’s a legend that the city of Osh has been founded by Solomon or by Alexander the Great.
2. In the center of the city is Solomon's mountain, which got its name in the 16^th century because tradition has it that the prophet Suleyman was buried at the foot of this mountain.
3. There is nearby a little cave with water drops coming from the roof called the tears of Suleyman.

Note: The population of Kyrgyzstan is mostly Muslim.

Video for Christmas

Dobush from Kfar Aza referred me to this cool video exploring religious symbols in a Jewish / Christian family, including some David Stars.

Abundance of Hexagrams in Tashkent capital of Uzbekistan

 All rights reserved to Oded Israeli (2008) who shot this picture at the museum of ceramics in Tashkent. The Hexagram on the right is not identical to the one at the left. Each has another smaller Hexagram in its center. In the second line above the Hexagrams, there is a line of Fleur de Lis. This white lily Symbol accompanies Hexagrams in different cultures during hundred of years. In addition, there are dozens of blue Hexagrams at the bottom.

Candy Box in the shape of a Star of David

This is a commercial advertisement from the fifties showing a drawing of a candy box in the shape of a Star of David held in the hand of a beautiful woman. This style of drawings was replaced later by pictures of candy boxes and of beautiful women, which left fewer places for imagination. Anyhow, seeing the Jewish star in such a nostalgic context is quite unique, so I’m proud to bring you this excellent picture.
Copyright: Zako 2008

The Masonic Square and Compasses and the Seal of Solomon

John J. Robinson claimed in his book (born in blood: the lost secrets of Freemasonry, 1989 ISBN 0871316021) that there’s a similarity between The Masonic Square and Compasses and Solomon’s Seal and the reason for this is that the Masonic Square and Compasses are one of many Masonic “loans” from the Knight Templars.
The order of the Knight Templars was founded in 1119, and it’s connection to Solomon (and Solomon’s Seal) is apparent from its full name: The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon. Their first headquarters was at the Temple Mount (The Temple of Solomon
The Masonic Square and Compasses appear (mainly in North America) with the letter G representing Geometry or God or both. With or without any connection to the Square and Compasses symbol the letter G appears in the center of Masonic Solomon Seals (six-pointed stars).
Picture is copied from Wikipedia entry Freemasonry (uploaded by MesserWoland).

Yiddish Hebrew Dictionary

On the cover of the Yiddish Hebrew Dictionary by Israel Brechyahu printed in 1947 in Kassel, Germany for holocaust survivors in the American Zone we see Magen David above a swastika above the wreckage from the period of the holocaust, including burning parchments and a Menorah. Thanks to Dobush from Kfar Gaza who directed me to this picture.