Study of the Eight-Pointed Star and Coins

 

Stars occupy a revered position across various divine manifestations, celestial emblems and sources of spiritual guidance. They serve as a unifying thread that transcends both time and cultural boundaries, binding us together through our insatiable curiosity, our enduring spiritual connection to the cosmos, and our awe at the enigmatic mysteries of the universe.

                       

Macedon, Uranopolis, 300 BC, Star of eight rays.

The 8-pointed Star (Octagram), holds immense cultural and religious significance across various historical contexts. The eight points of the star represent the 8 cardinal directions, making it a symbol of protection and guidance. A universal meaning of such stars is that they stand for life, from our birth to death and the wisdom we all possess, no matter how rich or poor we are. The symbol is widely recognized and shared amongst various religions and civilizations across the world. Moreover, the celestial symbol maintains a profound connection with the number 8, a universally recognized symbol of significance and good fortune. The shape has been associated with the eight phases of human spiritual growth. Some of these cultures are, Hinduism, Buddhism, Babylonian, Judeo-Christian, Egyptian, Gnostics and Wiccans

                       

       Eight-Pointed Star.

In Hinduism, the Ashtha Lakshmi, also known as a symbol, made of two squares, placed on top of each other at a 45-degree angle. The symbol represents the eight different forms of the goddess Lakshmi, who is regarded as the goddess of fortune, wealth and abundance. 

                         

Ashta Lakshmi, the 8 forms include, Adi, Dhana, Dhanya, Gaja, Santana, Dhairya, Vijaya and Vidya Lakshmi.

 

Surya Majapahit, (Surya of the Majapahit) is an emblem commonly found in ruins from the Majapahit era (Javanese Hindu-Buddhist thalassocrat empire in Southeast Asia, based on the island of Java) from 1293 AD to 1527 AD.  stretching from present day Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, southern Thailand, and southwestern Philippines.

                          

Surya Majapahit, showing arrangement of Hindu deities each residing in main cardinal points.

 

In ancient Mesopotamia, particularly Babylon, it was closely associated with the goddess Ishtar. Ishtar held sway over domains such as love, fertility and warfare, and she bore a connection with the planet Venus, referred to as the Morning Star. The Star of Ishtar is the symbol of the ancient Sumerian goddess Inanna and her East Semitic 

                         

        The Star of Ishtar.

                          

     

Depiction of the star of Ishtar (left) on a kudurru of Meli-Shipak II, 12th century BC.

The Seshat emblem is a hieroglyph representing goddess Seshat in ancient Egypt. The emblem sits atop her head. The archaic form had 7 petals and the vertical shaft as the 8th. (as a vertical, with two crossed lines (4), as a ''star'', and one horizontal giving 7 plus the 1-vertical. 

                         

Hatshepsut (1507 BC-1458 BC) and Seshat from the Red Chapel.

Buddhism use an eight-spoked wheel to represent the Eightfold path taught by the Buddha as a means to escape suffering through the breaking of attachments. These paths are right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration. The Dharma Wheel is seen in ancient Japan, China, and Thailand and in Jain history.

                          

        The Dharma Wheel.

                          

Wheel of Chariot of the Sun, Konark Sun Temple.

Ancient Egyptians recognized eight deities, four female and four males. The female deities were bearing feminine forms of the male names such as Nanet, Nu, Amun, Amunet, Kauket, Kuk, Huh and Hauhet. Each of the four pairs signifies a primal force, air, water, darkness and infinity. Together they create the sun god Ra and the world from the primordial waters.

In Judeo-Christians, number 8 represents beginnings, salvation, resurrection and super-abundance. This has to do with the fact that seven is several completions. A Jewish child goes into God's Covenant on the eight day of life. In Judaism, it is known as the Magen David or Shield of David.

Gnostics Valentinus of the 2nd century wrote about his ogdoad concept which again is four female/male pairs of what they regarded primordial principles. First, Abyss and Silence brought Truth and Mind, which they produced World and Life that finally led to Man and Church.

The star is a popular symbol in Islam. In Arabic, the 8-pointed star is known as Khatim or Khatim-al-Anbiya, which means ''seal of the prophet''. It is also seen as a symbol of unity, since all Muslims are united under Muhammad's teachings. 

                       

       Khatim, the eight-pointed star of Islam.

In Chinese tradition, the 8-pointed star was a way to concisely depict the entirety of the Universe. It was believed that the Sky Emperor Tái-Yi resided in a Palace at the center of Heaven, at the top of the 8-pointed star's axis, from which he ruled the eight divisions of Heaven. These stars are known to denote life, from birth to death.

The symbol is often called a Star of Wisdom and is found on antique Caucasian rugs. In Persian rugs, the star is a symbol of good luck and spirituality. Turks believed that to see the star in your dreams will bring good luck. This star is called the Kaheksakand in Estonian and is a symbol of life, fertility and wards against evil. In Latvia, is called Aka and is a symbol or a place where Heaven meets the Earth. In other Northern European countries, the star is used for hope, balance and harmony and is called the Nordic Rose.

                         

      Caucasian Rug with the 8-pointed star.

In Ukraine, is known as the Mother's Star. In the Americas, the Northern Canadian Mi'kmaq Indians used the 8pointed star pictogram on doorways and thresholds to ward against evil coming from the sea, and as a symbol of Hope. They called it Wejkwapeniaq which in English means ''the coming of the Dawn''. 

                          

The hill that overlooks the Bedford Basin where the Mi'kmaq 8-point star Petroglyph is located was known as Wejkwapeniaq to the Mi'kmaq, means ''The coming of the Dawn''.

A number of countries have the 8-pointed star on their national flags. 

Coins with the 8-pointed Star.

                                    

Satraps of Karia, Pixodaros AR Trihemiobol, Halikarnassos, 340-336 BC, weight 0.8 gm, Obverse: laureate head of Appolo facing right, Reverse: Eight-pointed star                      

                                         

Sicily, Syracuse, Time of Dionysios I, 405-375 BC, weight 4 gm, Obverse: Head of Arethusa to left, hair in sphendone, Reverse: Star of eight rays with incuse circle in center of quadripartite incuse square.

                                        

  

Greek coinage, Korkyra, Hemidrachm, Amphora, Reverse: Star of 8 rays.

                                          

        

Macedon, Uranopolis, 300 BC, weight 3.5 gm, Obverse: Star of eight rays, Reverse: Aphrodite, Urania, seated half left on globe, holding scepter.

               

     

 Judaea, Alexander, bronze Prutah, 104-76 BC, weight 2.9 gm, Obverse:  inscription around inverted anchor, Reverse: Paleo-Hebrew between the star with 8 rays                  

                                           

    

Phillip III Arrhidaeus, AR Drachm, 323-317 BC, Abydos mint, Obverse: Head of Herakles right, wearing a lion's skin, Reverse: Zeus seated left holding eagle and staff, eight - pointed star and MO monogram under throne.      

                                            

    

Byzantine, weight 5.5 gm, Obverse: Christ standing facing, IC XC either side, eight-pointed star below, either side, Reverse: C N in quadrants of cross with big dot at each end. Eight-pointed star in circle.

                                           

Akbar, AH 963-1014, or AD 1556-1605, copper, Nisfi, weight 10 gm, Obverse: Nisfi in Persian, Reverse: Eight-pointed star.

                                           

Troas, Kolone, 4th century BC, weight 1.3 gm, Obverse: Laureate head of Athena, Reverse: Eight- pointed star, grain ear.                                              

    

Travancore, One Cash, Chithira Thirunal Bala Rama Varma II, 1928- 1949, copper, weight 0.4 gm, Obverse: Eight-pointed star surrounds Shankh (conch shell) at center, Reverse: Legend in Malyalam, ''Oru-Kaashu''.

                                            

        

Tillya Tepe, Afghanistan, Buddhist gold coin 1st century BC-1st century AD, Obverse: Kharosthi legend' ''Dharmaca krapravata'', or the one who ruled the Wheel of the Law, Reverse; Kharosthi legend, Sih(o) vigatsbhay(o), or the lion who dispelled fear. This coin was in the Kabul Museum.

                                            

  

Akbar, 1556-1605 AD, silver rupee, Ahmadabad mint, weight 11.2 gm, Obverse: legend within 4-pointed star, Reverse: legend within eight-pointed star.

Eight-Pointed Star

Coins: Eight-Pointed Star.