- Star (symbol)
The star (★), as an
ideograph , most commonly represents the astronomicalstar for which it is named.Emblematic use
*In
heraldry , the star is the ensign of knightly rank, and every order of knighthood incorporates this symbol in some way. It has traditionally been used as a mark ofcadency for the third son.
*In Christian art St. Bruno bears a star on his breast;Saint Dominic ,Saint Humbert andSaint Peter of Alcantara have a star on their head or forehead. [cite book |last=Brewer |first=E. Cobham |title=The Dictionary of Phrase and Fable |section=Star |location=Ware, Hertfordshire |publisher=Wordsworth Editions Ltd |id=ISBN 1-85326-300-1]
*A number of stars in a row can indicate a scale of varying quality, the more stars the higher the quality.
*Inheraldry , a mullet is a star with five or less commonly six points. A star with wavy rather than straight rays is called anestoile .
*The star with six (or less commonly five) points is associated with law and order in theUnited States , and forms the basis of thesheriff 's badge.Five-pointed stars
The five-pointed star, if drawn with points of equal length and angles of 36° at each point, is sometimes termed a golden five pointed star. [http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/28/2824.html The five-pointed star] from cite book |last=Liungman |first=Carl G. |year=2004 |title=Symbols: Encyclopedia of Western Signs and Ideograms |publisher=HME Publishing |id=ISBN 91-972705-0-4. Retrieved
19 July 2006 .] If the colinear edges are joined together apentagram is produced, which is the simplest of theunicursal star polygon s, and a symbol of mystical and magical significance.The golden five-pointed star is a very commonideogram in the western world, and has particularly strong associations with military power and war. Many communist countries (such as China andVietnam ) and symbols (thehammer and sickle ) also incorporate five-pointed stars.The five-pointed star appears in the flags of 35 countries, and is thought to have first appeared in1777 on the flag of the newly declaredUnited States of America .Fact|date=March 2008 It also appears commonly in theheraldry of theUnited States , and stands in contrast to the vexillologically rarer seven-pointed star.The five-pointed star occurs in conjunction with a
crescent in the flags of several countries to symbolizeIslam , appearing for example as part of the symbol of theOttoman Empire . ed.Used as the symbol of the People Nation alliance of gangs from Chicago.Fact|date=June 2008 Blood gangs who originated from New York known as the UBN also use this as a symbol as they have emulated the People Nation alliance.Fact|date=June 2008
In ancient times, the five-pointed star represented the symbol of distraction.Fact|date=June 2008
An upside down five pointed star with a goat's head on the inside of is often associated with
Satanism .ix-pointed stars
Several varieties of six-pointed stars are used in Western culture:
* If the colinear edges of a regular six-pointed star are connected, so that two interlaced triangles are formed, a symbol results that is variously known as thehexagram ,Star of David , or Shield of David (Magen David). This symbol is most commonly associated withJudaism ; it is also used inChristianity , but on a less frequent basis.
* The six-pointedMarian Star is a symbol used by Roman Catholics to portray celestial objects, particularly in relation to theBlessed Virgin Mary .
* German and German-Americanhex sign s and barn stars often incorporate both five- and six-pointed stars as central themes.
* The six-pointed star is used as the symbol for Folks Nation alliance of gangs from chicago. Crip gang members tend to use this symbol also.Apart from the foresaid mentions, six-pointed star formations are rare as an
ideograph in Western cultures except in the case of law enforcement badges. [ [http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/28/2826.html The sixpointed star] from cite book |last=Liungman |first=Carl G. |year=2004 |title=Symbols: Encyclopedia of Western Signs and Ideograms |publisher=HME Publishing |id=ISBN 91-972705-0-4. Retrieved19 July 2006 .] Inastrology some formations of a six-pointed star can signifyfixed star s. In some rare instances it can signify the date of birth on a gravestone, synonymous with the five-point star.even-pointed stars
Political
A seven-pointed star appears in the
flag and heraldic symbolism ofAustralia . In the Australian context, the seven points represent the six states of Australia (one each) plus one for the combined territories. The seven-pointed stars stand in contrast to the vexillologically more conventionalfive-pointed star s.The Seal of the
Cherokee Nation has an acute gold seven-pointed star in its seal.Heptagram
A
heptagram or septagram is a seven-pointed star drawn with seven straight strokes. There are two kinds of heptagrams:
* "Acute heptagram", the {7/3}star polygon .
* "Obtuse heptagram", the {7/2} star polygon.Eight-pointed stars
Political
The Eight Star used widely in the Arabic states as beautification, sometimes a similar star to the
Star of Lakshmi also consider as the Arabic star.
*Star of Lakshmi
*Rub El Hizb ee also
*
List of symbolic stars References
External links
* [http://moroccandesign.com/eight-point-star Moroccan Islamic Patterns: The Eight-Point Star] Examining the symbolic meaning of the eight-point star (khatam) in Islamic ornamentation.
* [http://www.freetattoodesigns.org/star-tattoos.html Star Tattoos] The star as a symbol in tattoo designs
* [http://www.tattoo-designs-free.com/shooting-star.html Shooting Star Tattoos]
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