Symbols have often served as anchors for faiths and beliefs, providing a means of identification and representing values of piety, protection, and devotion. In the tapestry of world religions, the Star of David represents Judaism, the Cross symbolizes Christianity, the Crescent and Star stand for Islam, and the AUM or OM represents Hinduism. However, not all symbols are bathed in an aura of universal good; some carry dual associations of both benevolence and malevolence.
The pentagram, a five-pointed star, has been entwined with such duality for centuries. This article will journey into the historical labyrinth of the pentagram, seeking answers to why it is often associated with the occult.
The Pentagram: A Star with Many Faces
A pentagram is a five-pointed star that has been used across cultures and epochs, often linked to magic or occult practices. The term ‘pentagram’ refers to the star itself, while a pentagram within a circle is called a ‘pentacle’, a symbol embraced by Wiccans and Pagans. Over time, the pentagram has served a variety of purposes – a protection symbol, a sign of perfection, an emblem of humanity, and sometimes, a symbol of the devil.
From the ancient Sumerian pottery of Ur around 3500 BC to the philosophical doctrines of Pythagoreanism in 6th century BC, the pentagram’s ubiquity is undeniable. For Pythagoreans, it served as a sign of recognition, well-being, and the commemoration of good deeds and charity. This multifaceted symbol also found a place in the Christian faith during the Middle Ages, representing the five human senses or the five wounds of Christ.
The enigmatic English poem “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” from the 14th century used the pentagram to symbolize protection, strength, and virtue. The five points of the pentagram in the poem represented the five senses, the five wounds of Christ, the five joys of Mary with Jesus, and the five virtues of knighthood.
Pentagram: From Protective Symbol to Occult Emblem
Interestingly, the pentagram also featured in sigils and spells during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, a time when magic and alchemy were considered authentic science. Its presence at the center of large stained-glass windows, known as rose windows, in cathedrals like Amiens Cathedral in France underscores the symbol’s deep historical roots.
However, the pentagram’s association with magic and the occult grew significantly only by the mid-19th century. Influential writer Éliphas Lévi suggested that an upright pentagram, where the spirit rules over the four elements of matter, was a “good” symbol, while an inverted pentagram, symbolic of matter’s triumph over spirit, was considered “evil.”
German folklore and art have also employed the pentagram as an apotropaic (protective) symbol. In Johann Wolfgang von Gothe’s Faust, the protagonist uses the pentagram to trap the demon Mephistopheles, further cementing its association with magic and the occult.
The Baphomet Pentagram and Satanism
In the realm of Satanism, the inverted pentagram, often adorned with Baphomet’s goat head, takes center stage. Anton Szandor LaVey, the founder of the modern Church of Satan, chose this symbol as the organization’s logo in 1966. However, despite common misconceptions, members of the Church of Satan neither believe in a literal Satan nor worship him. For them, the pentagram’s association with Satan is more symbolic of the human nature’s darker instincts and suppressed desires.
Pentagrams and Wicca
In the context of Wicca, the pentagram, far from being an instrument of evil, is a sacred symbol of faith. Wiccans perceive the pentagram and the pentacle as representations of Earth, Air, Water, Spirit, and Fire, encapsulated by a circle signifying the universe. Misconceptions and fear surrounding its use in Wiccan rituals can be attributed to the faith’s worship of a “Horned God and Mother Goddess,” which often gets misconstrued.
From being unjustly banned in public schools during the “Satanic Panic” of the 80s and 90s, to being approved as a religious symbol on tombstones at Arlington National Cemetery in 2007, the journey of the pentagram in Wicca mirrors the evolution of religious freedom and acceptance.
Conclusion
The pentagram, in its simplistic form, is neither an emblem of good nor a symbol of evil. It cannot summon demons nor command the devil. It is a five-pointed star, a mathematically perfect shape. Its meanings have been forged and reforged over centuries by human interpretations, imbuing it with a fascinating historical complexity that transcends binary perceptions of good and evil.