[MR] pentagrams in devices

Wed Jul 22 09:03:06 PDT 2009

Best article on the history of the Pentacle/Pentagram I've thus far found- 

"Upright pentacles and pentagrams are among the most widely used religious
symbols. They have been used in many eras and by many cultures and religions
of the world: by ancient Pagans, ancient Israelites, Christians, magicians,
Wiccans and others. The following pentagram-using groups are listed in
chronological order:

 This symbol apparently originated as the symbol of a Goddess who was
worshiped over an area which extends from present-day England to Egypt and
beyond. Her name was Kore (a.k.a. Car, Cara, Carnac, Ceres, Core, Kar,
Karnak, Kaur, Kauri, Ker, Kerma, Kher, Kore, Q're, etc.). As Carmenta she
was said to have invented the Roman alphabet. From her alternative Roman
name Ceres have evolved many English words: cardiac, carnal, cereal, core,
corn, and kernel. The port of Caraalis, (now Cagliari, the capital of
Sardinia), was named after her.  

Kore's sacred fruit is the apple. When an apple is cut through its equator,
both halves will reveal a near-perfect pentagram shape at the core, with
each point on the star containing a seed. Many Wiccans, other Neopagans and
Roma (Gypsies) continue to cut apples in this way. The Roma refer to the
core as the Star of Knowledge.

 In ancient Greece, Pythagoras (586 - 506 BCE) established a school which
pursued knowledge in mathematics, music, religion, and other specialties.
Driven underground, his followers used the pentagram as a secret sign to
identify themselves to each other. The Masonic Order has traditionally
traced its origins back 2,500 years to the Pythagoreans.

 Kore was worshiped within the Coptic Gnostic Christian religion in
Alexandria, Egypt, during the 4th century CE. Her festival, the Koreion, was
held yearly on JAN-6. This was adopted by the Christian church as Feast of
Epiphany (a.k.a. Twelfth Night). 4 This date is still celebrated as Jesus'
birthday in Armenian churches, and is observed with more pomp than is
Christmas by the Greek Orthodox church. 5

 In England, the Koreion became the Kirn - the Feast of Ingathering. The
Christian church later adopted it to the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy. 4

 During the times of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament), the pentacle was
the first and most important of the Seven Seals - an amulet whose seals
represented the seven secret names of God. It was inscribed on King
Solomon's ring, which is often called Solomon's Seal in error. 6 Each point
of the pentagram was also interpreted as referring to the five books of the
Pentateuch - the first five books in the Hebrew Scriptures; the Torah.

 ****The Celts believed that the pentacle was the sign of the Goddess of the
Underground, who they called Morgan (a.k.a. Morrigan). The concept of five
points 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 five fold cloaks."
9****

 In Christian times: The five points of the pentagram have been interpreted
as representing the five wounds of Christ (2 wrist, 2 ankle and 1 side). 

 The Roman Emperor Constantine used the pentagram in his seal and amulet. 14

 It has been referred to as the Star of Bethlehem 
 It was used to symbolize the star which allegedly led three Zoroastrian
astrologers to the baby Jesus; it was called the Three Kings' star. 

**** The English warrior Sir Gawain, a nephew of King Arthur, adopted the
pentagram as his personal symbol and placed it on his shield. 7 It appeared
in gold on a red background. The five points symbolized "the five knightly
virtues - generosity, courtesy, chastity, chivalry and piety." 14 ****

 Tarot cards originally had a suit of coins or discs. These were changed in
the 19th century to pentacles when the Tarot became associated with the
Kabbalah. They eventually became the suit of diamonds in modern playing
cards. 

 It has been widely used by past Christians as a protective amulet. 

 During the burning times when the Christian church burned alive or hung
hundreds of thousands of innocent people, the meaning of the pentagram
changed. It began to symbolize a goat's head or the devil in the form of
Baphomet. "The folk-symbol of security - for the first time in history - was
equated with evil and was called the Witch's Foot." 14 

 Modern times: The religion of Wicca is based in part on ancient Celtic
deities, symbols, days of celebration, etc. The pentacle and pentagram are
their main symbols.  
 Many religious and spiritual groups use the pentacle or pentagram today. 
  The National flag of Morocco consists of a green interwoven star on a red
background. The color red has "considerable historic significance in
Morocco. ... during the reign of Mulay Yusuf, the green Seal of Solomon was
added to the national flag." 16 " 
 http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_pent.htm

And another, with a brief bit of interesting-ness-

" Through the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the pentagram was commonly used
(ironically) as a charm against witches and demons. (like other protective
knots, it was considered effective only if drawn perfectly)

****It was not until the twentieth century that the pentagram became
associated with Satanism, probably due to misinterpretation of symbols used
by ceremonial magicians****"

http://symboldictionary.net/?p=378

Other interesting facts I found-

Uruk period, 3500BCE at Ur of the Chaldees in Ancient Mesopotamia, was found
on potsherds

Hebrews attributed the symbol to the 5 books of the Pentateuch, and it
was/is sometimes (incorrectly according to who you talk to) called
'Solomon's Seal'.

Ancient Greeks designated it the 'Pentalpha'. Geometrically comprised of
five 'A's.

Examined by Pythagoreans who deemed it an insignia of perfection.

In later ages, Mesopotamian art, "the pentagram was employed in regal
etchings and was representative of royal authority extending out to "the
four corners-of-the-world". "
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3112702/History-and-Uses-of-the-Pentacle

Emperor Constantine used  the pentagram with the chi-rho symbol in his seal
and amulet, in 312 CE.

The Knights Templar are said to have built their center of the Order around
Rennes du Chatres in France because of the arrangement of the mountains in
an almost natural pentangle.

The symbol is still used in FreeMasonry.

-Wolf

Semper Fi, Once a Marine, Always a Marine.
Without Chaos, there can be no Order.
http://wolfsilveroak.insanejournal.com- Wolf's Den blog
http://wolfsilveroak.deviantart.com- DeviantArt page
http://www.1000markets.com/users/dantesspirit - Dante's Spirit at
1000Markets
http://DantesSpirit.etsy.com - Dante's Spirit Etsy Shop

-----Original Message-----
From: atlantia-bounces at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
[mailto:atlantia-bounces at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org] On Behalf Of
flonzy at hotmail.com 
Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 8:39 AM
To: scribe0002 at aol.com ; willets at bellatlantic.net 
Cc: atlantia at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org 
Subject: Re: [MR] pentagrams in devices

I find the dismissive attitude towards history in your post just as
disturbing as the dismissive attitude of Pagan religion in the othe post.
Has anyone found the use of a pentangle or a pentagram in heraldry or are
the examples of the symbol Christian church or peasant superstition related?
I ask would the use of these symbols be a nod to history or ones modern
life? Can we not leave the modern world behind for just a few hours? I ask
where is the courtesy in dismissing or guideline of pre 17th century while
participating in the SCA? James ---------- Sent from AT&T's Wireless network
using Mobile Email

-----Original Message-----
From: scribe0002 at aol.com
Sent: 7/22/2009 2:33:21 AM
To: willets at bellatlantic.net
Cc: atlantia at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
Subject: Re: [MR] pentagrams in devices

 The tone of this post was very dismissive. Discussion is a good thing,
disrespect is not.

Quite a few folks on this list and in this organization identify as pagans.
It is a recognized religious classification in the US. One of the facts that
convinced Wreath to allow the change was the recent acceptance by the US
Govt of the pagan symbols for headstones for fallen soldiers, sailors and
marines who practice pagan beliefs.

I think we will all accept that our devices are more to us then strictly
historical display. We are not pure historical re-enactment.

We are an organization of courtesy and respect. Please, can we keep the tone
of posts respectful?

Gisela vom Kreuzbach

-----Original Message-----
From: Vernon And Susan Willet <willets at bellatlantic.net>
To: Dave Montuori <damont at wolfstar.com>; nodecaf at nodecaf.com
Cc: atlantia at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
Sent: Tue, Jul 21, 2009 10:14 pm
Subject: Re: [MR] pentagrams in devices

Just a comment here, on this pagan nonsense.  Being a pagan in medieval
Europe was a very dicy proposition.  Best bet scenario entailed secret
meetings of like minded individuals, furitive flitting about in the woods.
Worst case brought the unwelcome attention of the Inquisition, with its
attendant hotfoot.  Pagan displays are grotesquely out of period, anyway.
Pagans date from 1890 or so; Aliester Crowley and the Golden Dawn.  Totally
fabricated (See Crowleys "True Book of Lies".  There is no authentic
history, otherwise, since Caesar slaughtered the Druids on the Isle of Man
and they left no records.  Might as well add flourishes and curling banners
to your hearaldry, if you are going to allow pentograms.  They are both
victorian romance.  More history might quell some of the fantasy.  Just my 2
pence.?
?

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Montuori" <damont at wolfstar.com>?

To: <nodecaf at nodecaf.com>?

Cc: <atlantia at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org>?

Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 7:58 PM?

Subject: Re: [MR] pentagrams in devices?
?

>> As a real practicing Pagan, I will say that it is with a sigh of relief?

>> that here in the SCA some have finally begun to see past religious?

>> prejudices.?

>?

> As one who has been a member of the College of Arms through the last?

> *three* times this issue came up, let me point out that it is *MUNDANE*?

> religious prejudices that needed to be overcome.?

>?

> The only reason the ban was upheld in the 1990s was that too many non-SCA?

> people in certain areas of the USA would have seen this as an?

> ANTI-religious symbol, which would have been horrid P.R. for the SCA
which?

> already had a shaky reputation in some of those areas. In the past dozen?

> years quite a bit has changed, in this case for the better.?

>?

> Evan da Collaureo?

> Sackbut Herald?

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