Star of David Bell

There's another Star of David on the holder of the bell. 

Picture is courtesy of Zako 

Muslim Solomon Seal in Krimea

Muslim Solomon's Seal surrounding a circle appears in Krimea on a tomb in the Khan´s palace at Bakhchisaray. 

In each of the six triangles surrounding the inner hexagon, there's a small circle.

Picture is courtesy of Daniel Putík from Flickr

Basel Münster Cathedral

Large Star of David on the window of the Basel Münster, which was built between 1019 and 1500 in Romanesque and Gothic styles.

Picture is courtesy of mightymightymatze from Flickr

Star of Goloka

Picture is courtesy of Thoufeek Zakriya from
thoufeekzak.blogspot.com

On May 9, 2009 Swami B. G. Narasingha posted a lengthy article to FourWinds10 (under the title: Star of David or Star of Goloka?) where he tells us that the six-pointed star is known in Vedic cultures as Sat-kona or Goloka-yantra.

He cites from “the oldest known Vedic literature, Sri Brahma-samhita” [Discovered in the 16th century but there’s no mention of its date of composition]:

“The center of the divine lotus is the core — Krsna's residence… is mapped as a hexagonal mystic symbol [sat-konam]...The great mantra of eighteen syllables [Gopala-mantra], which is formed of six integral parts, is manifest as a hexagonal place with six-fold divisions.” [Sri Brahma-samhita, Ch-5, Tx-3]

“The core of that eternal holy abode which is called Gokula is the hexagonal land of Krsna's abode. [Sri Brahma-samhita, Ch-5, Tx-4]

According to Wikipedia [entry “Goloka”] Goloka is Krishna's heaven (souls return to the material world again and again to perfect themselves and go to Goloka). Etymology: “Goloka means the world of cows. The Sankrit word 'go' can refer to either cows or star”.

The First Known Book-Covers with Magen Davids

The First Known Book-Covers with Magen Davids are:

”Beur al sefer Shaarei Dura” by Rabbi Joseph Ben Rabbi Moshe from Kremnitz, which was printed in Prague in 1609. In a similar design were issued in Prague in 1611 the books " Imrei Binah" and “Mekor Chokhmah".
Thanks to Eli Eshed, journalist who calls himself a "culture detective", for directing me to this piece of information.

See: http://www.notes.co.il/eshed/56005.asp

P.S.

Daniel Putík from Flickr:  

Just to let you know that a Magen David does appear on the front page of a Siddur printed in Prague by Gershon Ha-Kohen (Katz) as early as 1512. Unfortunately, I can not find a picture now. My father wrote a study about this. Alexandr Putík, "The Origin of the Symbols of the Prague Jewish Town. The Banner of the Old-New Synagogue. David's Shield and the Swedish hat“. Judaica Bohemiae vol. XXIX (1993).

Fleur-de-Lis on Printers Marks

The printers from the Giunta family printed in Florence and Venice from 1480 to 1598

Pictures are copied from

Gutenberg project: Printers' Marks, a Chapter in the History of Typography by William Roberts, 1893

Haarlem Hexagrams

Hexagrams appear in the printer’s mark of Jacobus Bellaert from 1483- “the arms above the Griffin are those of the city of Haarlem”. 

Picture copied from Gutenberg project: Printers' Marks, a Chapter in the History of Typography by William Roberts, 1893

Coat of arms of Haarlem, the capital of the province of North Holland

From Wikipedia Commons courtesy of Mcke

Fleur de Lis, Esneh Temple, Egypt

Fleur de Lis, Esneh Temple, Egypt, second century B.C.E

Picture is courtesy of Brooklyn Museum from Flickr

Hexagram as a Homonym

One of the factors that complicate researching the Star of David symbol is that the Hexagram is the name of a few different things:

A. The six-pointed star (Star of David)
B. The Unicursal hexagram (drawn unicursally)

C. The name of each of the 64 yin-yang diagrams in the Chinese Book of Changes (I Ching)

D. The name of a large silver coin issued by 7th century Byzantine Emperors (Heraclius, Constans II, and Constantine IV)

Picture is courtesy of Saperaud from Wikipedia entry Hexagram (coin)

E. The name of a six-pointed star made from 6 radiuses starting from the same point, and not from two triangles.

I shot this picture at YMCA Jerusalem

King David's Shield - Potential source of the legend

As you surely know there's a legend about King David's Shield, which carried a six-pointed star. 

All rights reserved-  Joe Geranio 2009

Picture is for Educational Use Only

we see here a SHIELD of a KING, which carries a SIX-POINTED STAR only this king, here, is a Roman king (Augustus 17 BCE). I guess that Jews actually held these coins in their hands after the first century B.C.E (so close to the destruction of the temple in 70 C.E ) and this material image may have triggered the invention of King David's Shield. Anyhow I’m sure that you’ll be surprised from this coincidence at least as I was when I stumbled upon these pictures.

King with shield or Goddess of Victory with shield on Roman coins is a frequent motif.

See coin with shield with Double Square (two squares inposed on each other with a shared center like the six pointed star having two triangles arranged similarly)

See also a six pointed star that will surprise the arabs at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/julio-claudians/2127619119/

Magen David Arm Tattoo

Picture is courtesy of Aoife city womanchile from Flickr

Chicago Flag Tattoo

The stars that we see here are NOT Stars of David but three out of the four red hexagrams that adorn the Chicago Flag. These stars stand for: 

Fort Dearborn

The Great Chicago Fire

The  World's Columbian Exposition of 1893

The Century of Progress Exposition in 1933

Each point of each star stands for a certain meaning like: transportation, labor, commerce etc.

Picture is courtesy of kallao from Flickr.

Solomon Seal on Ethiopian Crown

Solomon's Seal on Ethiopian Crown along with a cross (at the top). In the background we see the Lion of Judah. All these were symbols of the late Haile Selassie I (1892-1975).

Picture is courtesy of menfes qeddus from Flickr who Bought it in Addis Ababa.

Yellow Badge on a Nazi Propaganda Stamp

Indian Hexagram Ritual

From: Inman, Thomas (1820-1876) Ancient pagan and modern Christian symbolism (1884)

Sri lantra [Yantra] is an ancient Hindoo [Hindu] emblem. The circle represents the world, in which the living exist; the triangle pointing upwards shows the male creator; and the triangle with the apex downwards the female; distinct, yet united. These have a world within themselves, in which the male is uppermost. In the central circle the image to be worshipped is placed. When used, the figure is placed on the ground, with Brahma to the east, and Laksmi to the west. Then a relic of any saint, or image of Buddha, like a modern papal crucifix, is added, and the shrine for worship is complete. It has now been adopted in Christian churches and Freemasons' lodges. 

Star of David in a Synagogue predating the expulsion from Spain

The Synagogue of Santa María La Blanca in the old Jewish quarter of Toledo, Spain, was Toledo's oldest and largest synagogue. It was built in the 12th century. Right under the columns there is a geometric latticework forming a Star of David (hard to notice). Style: Mudéjar (Moorish) . The Moors were Muslims who remained in Spain after the Christians overtook the country.

Picture is courtesy of FayeB6 from Flickr.

Swastikas that predated the Indian Swastikas

Commonly, we say that the Nazis adopted the Indian swastika, but today I understood that apparently they took it from the people of Troy in the aftermath of discovery of the German archaeologist Heinrich  Schliemann, 1822-1890 who found Troy in his excavations in Turkey. He made a connection between swastikas from Germany Troy and Iran in the frame of the Arian racial doctrine in his book:

Schliemann, Heinrich , Troy and its remains, London: Murray, 1875

In the above picture, we see ceramic disks from this book. These disks are dated to the third century BCE, and are apparently the most ancient swastikas known to archaeologists. Interesting to note that the Indians received swastikas from neighboring countries only hundreds of years later.

See: http://sacred-texts.com/sym/mosy/mosy06.htm

See there also a map of the distribution of the swastika

http://sacred-texts.com/sym/mosy/img/pl03.jpg

This map certainly arouses my envy, and I hope that some day we’ll have a similar detailed map of the distribution of the Star of David.

Decoration for Episcopal throne from the 13th century

A hexagram engraved on a marble slab as decoration for the Episcopal throne in the Cathedral of Anagni, Italy, which was built c. 1226

The hexagram is “standing” on two points.

Picture courtesy of antmoose from Flickr

Anagni, Casa Barnekow fresco

CC image photographed by

antmoose from Flickr

Fleur de Lis Tattoo

Aaron Aviv sent me his impressive Star of David & Fleur de Lis TATTOO and wrote the following:

I chose the Fleur de Lis for two reasons, first it is Navigators North on many old sea charts, and I wanted something other than an N above the Compass Rose but the second and main reason is that my first born son was born in New Orleans last year. New Orleans has adopted the Fleur de Lis as the symbol of the city and its people. So my navigators north is not only authentic, it also points to the place of my son's birth.

Copyright: Aaron Aviv 2009

The Fleur de Lis (Lilium Candidum, lily) has from above the exact shape of the Star of David. That's why in Jewish tradition it represents the six directions. However, why and how did it start representing the North, which is only one of the six directions? I think that it has to do with the THREE MAGI (also known as: Three Wise Men, Three Kings, or Kings from the east) who were guided to the house of Jesus in Beth-Lehem by a star (the pole-star?)

Star of David Made from Bricks

To build and to be built- I took this shot in July 2008

Building Israel - Photo by Zako-  sent to me today

all the rights are reserved to him

Christmas or Sukkah Decoration

My dear friend Dick Ben Dor brought me these Christian hexagrams as Christmas Decorations 

but they are good also for the Sukkah because of the 

Star of David