Alphonso X Book of Games 13th century C.E.

3 Six pointed stars on the bottom and top margins of the chess board 

Picture from Fol 9r

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Six pointed stars appear several times in Alphonso X's [amazing] Book of Games 

(Book of chess, dice and tables -Libro de los juegos

Written and painted in Toledo, Spain, 1283 C.E.

Researchers argue if the apearance of this symbol has any connection to Jews 

Chi Rho Six Pointed Star

Chi Rho (1870) carved in stone at the Russian Compound in Jerusalem 

The Chi Rho was used by early christians. It is called after the names of the first two Greek letters Chi and Rho (ΧΡ). These letters start the word "ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ" =Christ. The letter on the right is Alpha and the letter on the left is Omega. The term Alpha and Omega comes from the phrase "I am the alpha and the omega"  in the Book of Revelation (1:8) which means that Jeusu is the First and the Last, the beginning and the End, since Alpha is the first and Omega is the last letter of the Greek alphabet.

The beginning of this symbol is ascribed to Roman emperor Constantine (272- 312 C.E.) who called it labarum and used it as a military symbol.

There is no unequivocal proof that Constantine invented the ChiRho and that he started its usage as a military symbol, but it is interesting tocompare his legend to those about the beginnings of the star of David and theFleur de Lis. Constantine and King Davidboth won wars by inscribing their emblems on their shields. In 493 King Clovis Igot the Fleur de Lis emblem from God, after his conversion to Christianity… likeConstantine. In all three legends kings start the history of a symbol. These threesymbols are actually three aspects of the same six-pointed star symbol (Fleurde Lis is a six-pointed star viewed from the side). 
The same goes for Solomon's Seal symbol which started from King Solomon . The name "Solomon's Seal" was used during the Middle Ages to mark  stars with five or six points. 

Researchers Aarne andThompson in their typology of International Folktales proved that the same legendmay appear in different cultures without any known connections between theirinventors, and it seems to me that this is the case here. Usage of thesesymbols did not start  from historicalevents but from the need of folk consciousness to attribute the beginning to asupreme source of authority - a king by the grace of God.

Roman Mosaic. Center: Chi Rho 4th Century 

CC Image from Wikipedia entry: Hinton St Mary Mosaic 

The Chi Rho is flanked by two pomegranates

It is interesting to notice that in any pomegranate before the crown

(Six pointed Star) opens it looks like Six Radiuses with a common center, 

just like the Chi Rho 

View my Chi Rho Christogram Six Pointed Star Gallery on Flickr

Gothic Church in Rome

Ceiling frescos in Gothic Catholic Church

 of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva in Rome 

Many gold stars of David on the triangles

looks like Cosmatesque Style

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CC image by "sparkovonovinski" from Flickr

Hexagram - Designs and Meanings

Otto Friedrich AugustMeinardus was a German Coptologist and pastor (1925 – 2005). Hewrote an article titled TheHexagram or the Magen David in Byzantine Art (in the Bulletin of the ChristianArcheological Society 8 (period IV)(1975-1976) p. 97-100). In this article he claimsthat the current meaning of the hexagram as representing the House of David or theJewish heritage in Christendom is too dominant and leads to misconception. Inthe past the hexagram acceptance was wider than today, and its main functionwas ornamental.

Meinardus mentions severalhexagram designs

a-     The Capernaum Synagoguetype with straight lines which eventually became the symbol of the state ofIsrael.

b-     The Eshtemoa Synagogue type with curved lines[1], which is most frequently found on Byzantine ornamentation.

c-     The six rayedstar [2] influenced by the I for Jesus and X for Christos

d-    The  six rayed star which "clearly signifiedthe heavenly body, as, for example, in the case of the upper part of theBarberini Diptych in the Louvre"

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[1] My teacher, Ze'ev Goldmann, thought that this Tri-loop symbol (which appearstwice on the Capernaum Lintel) is frequent Samaritan one, but appears also on aJewish Massoretic design in micrographic writing that has in its center a pieceof paper with text of the Tri-partite blessing of the Cohanim. It appears alsoon Neo-Paphos Mosaic Floor along with Crosses and the Swastika sign. 

About 40 years ago Dr. Asher Eder took a picture of this Tri-Loop symbol on arelief in the ruins of an Herodian building in Beth-El, north of Ramallah.

 [2] G. Scholem claimed that this type ("six radiuses which come fron a single point") is not a Star of David at all. G. Scholem mentions the appearance of this sign on Assyrian, and later Phoenician and Israeli seals. (Magen David, Toldotav Shel Semel [Hebrew] p. 29.

a.      Capernaum - straight lined star -4th century C.E.

Credit:Gabi Goldman

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b.      Capernaum - curved lined star -4th century C.E.

Credit:Gabi Goldman

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c.       Constantinople Christian sarcophaguswith XI monogram, circa 400 C.E.

ArchaeologicalMuseum in Istanbul

Source:CC image, English Wikipedia entry: Sarcophagus

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d.      Barberini Diptych in the Louvre  -6th century C.E.

 Source: CC image, English Wikipedia entry: Justinián_I.

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Throne of St Peter

Six pointed star engraved in 
13th Century marble throne of St Peter of Castello in Venice, Italy. 

Comes from Antioch. Inscribed with words from the Koran

Probably an ancient Muslim gravestone 

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Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Venezia_-_Chiesa_di_San_Pietro_di_Castello_-_Cattedra_di_San_Pietro.JPG 

Star of David on Papal Coat of Arms

Star of David (representing Hope) on the Coat of Arms of PopePius X (1835 –1914)

"Theshield displays the arms Pius X took as Bishop of Mantua: an anchor proper castinto a stormy sea… lit up by a single six-pointed star of gold. These wereinspired by Hebrews 6:19, which state that the hope we have is the sure andsteadfast anchor of the soul".

Source: English Wikipedia entry: Pope_Pius_X

As I mentioned in privious posts the Fleur de Lis is a hexagram viewed from the side- so that it also hints to the connection of the Popes to the sanctity of the Shoshan (Lily) in the Old Testament.

Fleur de Lis on the Coat of Arms of  pope Urban_IV (1261-1264)

and also on the Coat of Arms of  popes:

 Innocent V (1276-1276)

Nicholas IV(1288-1292)

Paul III (1534-1549) 

Innocent X (1644-1655) 

Leo XIII (1878-1903) 

Paul VI (1963-1978)  According to the prophecy of Saint Malachy in 1139: "His coat of arms features three flowers". 

Source:  English Wikipedia entry: Papal_coat_of_arms

Star of David on Middle Ages Charts

Star of David on a Nautical Chart of Mediterranean area from
LUÍS TEIXEIRA, PORTOLAN CHART. Lisbon, ca. 1600 

Source: Wikipedia entry: User:Geagea/gallery

JOAN MARTINES, PORTOLAN ATLAS. Italy, ca. 1578
Source:  Wikipedia Category:Star_of_David?uselang=de

Carta catalana (Mappamondo catalano) 1452 ?
Source:  Wikipedia Category:Star_of_David?uselang=de

 Evelyn Edson wrote in her book The world map, 1300-1492: the persistence of tradition and transformation that the star of david flag flying over Brisch (modern Bissa- town in North Africa) maybe refrers to the  large community of Jews in this coastel town. 

The six pointed star of Armenia

Read the extensive  postby peopleofar

Harichavank Monastery, Armenia, 13th century

Source Wikipedia entry-  HarichavankMonastery

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Armenia, Goshavank monastery, XII-XIII

Source Wikipedia entry-  Goshavank Monastery

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Hasan-Jalal_coat_of_arms from 1214

Bottom: Hexagram framing the wheel of eternity symbol

 Source Wikipedia entry-  House ofHasan-Jalalyan

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Hexagrams on the walls of 13th Century Noravank monastery  

Source Wikipedia entry-Noravank

Bell Tower of Santa Maria in Strada Church

Christian star of David at the 

Bell Tower of Santa Maria in Strada Church

 Monza  ITALY 1421

1504 Book printer William Faques

Six pointed star on the device of 

book printer 

William Faques 

1504 
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Source

A Short History of English Printing, 1476-1898 

by Henry R. Plomer, 1900



A

Mosteiro de Sao Bento em Sao Paulo

 Pictures and captions are courtesy of Iara Czeresnia (c) 2011

Menorah in  Mosteiro de Sao Bento em Sao Paulo
Built in the 20th Century C.E

Pattern of Hexagrams Triangles and Hexagons
on the floor
 in  Mosteiro de Sao Bento em Sao Paulo

Caption: Stella  Eius  

[HIS Star]
under Hexagram
on the entrance Door to

Mosteiro de Sao Bento em Sao Paulo

Entrance Door to

Mosteiro de Sao Bento em Sao Paulo


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The  Pastor of this Church
Irmão João Batista 
Wrote to Iara Czeresnia that 
the six pointed Star represents the People of God and that
 Jewish Symbols are frequent in Christian Churches 
.because Jesus was a Jew

Neo-Gothic Hexagram in Leipzig

Neo-Gothic Hexagram in the tower of Peace Church in Leipzig 

Thanks to SaReGaMa for referring me to this image in Wikipedia

Jesus in a hexagram

Jesus in a hexagram

Saint Nikola church in Krusevo, Macedonia

CC Picture from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Krusevo-saint-nikola-church-hexagram.jpg

Thanks to SaReGaMa who referred me to this image

Star of David in front of the Cathedral in Orvieto

Star of David  in front of the Cathedral in Orvieto

 Photo by Georg Eisner (c) 2011 

 Photo by Georg Eisner (c) 2011 

Photo by Georg Eisner (c) 2011 

1270 Star of Mary

Star of David at 

Iglesia de Santa María de la Oliva

villaviciosa , Asturias, Spain

1270   

C.E

CC picture by alb totxo  from Flickr

Six pointed stars on a Byzantine Coin

Anastasius I, 491 - 518 C.E.

Bronze follis (coin) minted in Constantinople, 512  C.E. The M marks 40 nummi

Along with a cross above the M

Bell Tower in Strade italy 1610

Christian hexagram in a 

Bell Tower in Strade italy from 1610

CC picture from 

it.wikipedia.Santa Maria in Strada Monza

by Francescogb

(c)

Medal - Info Please

Front: Star of David made from dots

with the Hebrew word Zion inside the hexagon

© Dawn Kosinski

Back: "Saint Christopher Protect Us"

© Dawn Kosinski

Dawn Kosinski sent me the following message to my readers:

When going through my father-in-law's things we found a St Christopher's (Catholic) Metal with a Star of David metal on the back. The Star of David is slightly off center, which makes me wonder if someone just glued it to the back of the St Christopher. I don't know the age but suspect that it is pretty old. Maybe from WW II.

Can you give me any ideas on this

?

The Christian MEANING OF MAGEN DAVID on Youtube

see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrHb04Sb_FU&NR=1

Thanks to Dobush for the reference

Hexagram at Bled Museum, Slovenia

Hexagram made from 6 rhombs and a circle - seems like Roman floor - exhibited at Bled Museum, Slovenia.

(c) Oded Israeli 2010