The name the “Star of David” is quite new. Before it, this star was called the “Seal of Solomon”. The story of Solomon’s seal was believed to be developed by medieval Arabic writers who claimed that Solomon’s signet ring was engraved by God Himself and was given to Solomon from heaven.
This ring variously gave Solomon the power to command demons, Jinns or to speak with animals. Due to the proverbial wisdom of Solomon, his signet ring, or its supposed design, it came to be seen as an amulet or talisman, or a symbol or character in medieval and Renaissance-era magic, occultism, and alchemy.
The legend of the Seal of Solomon was developed primarily by medieval Arabic writers, who related that the ring was engraved by God and was given to the king directly from heaven. The ring was made from brass and iron, and the two parts were used to seal written commands to good and evil spirits, respectively. In one tale, a demon, either Asmodeus, or Sakhr, obtained possession of the ring and ruled in Solomon’s stead for forty days. In a variant of the tale of the ring of Polycrates from Herodotus, the demon eventually threw the ring into the sea, where it was swallowed by a fish, caught by a fisherman, and served to Solomon.
In Islamic eschatology, the Beast of the Earth is equipped with both the Staff of Moses and the Seal of Solomon and uses the latter to stamp the nose of the unbelievers.
The date of origin legends surrounding the Seal of Solomon is difficult to establish.
Symbol transmutation into star of David
Early uses of the hexagram seen in the Star of David can be seen dating far back in history, where it was used purely as a decoration on antiquities.
Some scholars suggest that this shape might have been used as an ornament in synagogues, even before its religious connotations were formed. One of the first uses linked to Jewish identity was in the 11th Century, when the famous Tanakh manuscript featured it as an ornament in 1008.
A hundred years later, the Star of David was used again in the Leningrad Codex in 1108. This book is known to be the longest-surviving, full edition of the Hebrew Bible that still exists in modern day.
In the 17th Century, the bustling Jewish quarter located in Vienna featured markings that contained hexagrams, the same shape used within the Star of David. This was intended to distinguish this quarter of the city from the rest of the architecture, providing a clear marker of the Jewish identity within the city. This was around the same time that the symbol began to be used en-masse in synagogues throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
At the end of the 19th Century, the Star of David became a symbol of the Zionist movement, propelling its symbolism of Jewish identity on the international stage.
On a sad and unfortunate side note, later on during World War II in the 20th century, the Star of David was chosen by the Nazis as the symbol to mark and identify Jewish individuals for persecution. The symbol used was typically yellow, or blue with a white background, and wearing one was enforced by the Nazi population. It became mandatory and anyone from Jewish population who did not wear it was punished severely.
Despite this kind of inhumane use of the symbol, some Jewish people chose to wear the symbol voluntarily as a show of defiance against the Nazi invasion.
After the Holocaust, the Star of David was used in the national flag of Israel.
Wearing the star of David on the skin
Tribal Style tattoo of Star of David
Hebrew lettering shares tattoo with Star of David
If we take into account the birth place of this symbol we might be incline to speculate that this tattoo might be use in ritual magic practices to far back in time to have any recollection. The oldest recount of this practice comes from world war era story’s.
Arnold Shield who was who attached to the 3rd British Infantry Division.
His unit was given the objective of taking Caen and opening a corridor into Belgium and Holland. Whilst on this operation they found themselves on the flank of the Paratroopers at Arnhem but were unable to help them. At Lingham in Germany they discovered a V2 Factory which they then destroyed and his unit finally finished up in Bremen.
Before going into action on D-Day Arnold had the Star of David tattooed onto his arm.
Arnold explains that the reason he had this done was that he fully expected to be killed in action and, in his words, wished it to be known that he had fought and died as a Jew.
I think we can conclude that the modern appreciation of this symbol inside the tattoo world falls into the translation of anything Jewish, assimilation of this particular culture and its history or maybe the religion aspect all by itself.
The Star of David The name the “Star of David” is quite new. Before it, this star was called the “Seal of Solomon”.
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