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Any look at the meaning of the pentagram would be incomplete without first looking at the
meaning of the 5 elements. In western thought these elements consist of Earth, Air, Fire,
Water and Spirit (Ether). The typical four elements (of the West) are well enough known
that they can be skipped for the intents and purposes of this discussion. Ether is probably
the most obscure of the elements.
The idea of Ether comes originally from early Alchemy. Einstien provides a very eloquent discription of
the principal of Ether and it's connection to relativity, but actually Newton was not the originator of the
theory, as Einstein suggests. In fact Pythagoras was the first Western figure credited with the specific
mention of a fifth element which he titled 'Aether' (or'Aither'). Pythagoras also borrowed from the
teachings of the philosopher Empedocles who had first posited the existence of 4 basic elements which
he corresponded with 4 of the Greek Gods (book 1.33). Earlier (~600bce) the philosopher Anaximander
(Pythagorus' teacher) had theorised the existence of 4 basic qualities (Hot, Dry, Cold, Wet) which
eventually were combined with Empedocles' elements by Aristotle1, thus forming what is now known as
the "elemental humours".
In addition the Eastern philosophers of the Indus river valley had a fifth element which they referred to in
the Sanskrit language as 'Akasha'(meaning void). To be thorough, the elements also existed in a different
fashion on the opposite side of the Himalayan mountains in the form of the Chinese elements, Wood,
Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. To properly describe the complete characteristics of this ancient and
distinct system of elements is beyond the scope of this essay, but I have made a brief discription of the
basic history and properties of the Chinese elements at the bottom for those who are sufficiently
interested. The 4 elements did and still do have an important place in the various African Traditional
Religions amounst the Bantu, Fon, and others of the Kongo delta region including their contemporary
diasporia, aswell as amoungst the Celtic tribes, and Amerindians.
Having briefly considered the origin of the 5th element, lets now look at the antiquity and various
meanings ascribed to the pentagram (5 pointed star) and pentacle (5 pointed star within a circle). The
earliest physical evidence of the existence of the pentagram comes from the very place where agricultural
civilization is popularly believed to have started. The pentagram was frequently found on potsherds and
tablets (which have been dated to as early as 3500 BCE) in the location of the Kingdom of Uruk (at the
mouth of the Tigris-Euphrates valley). The symbol was found accompanying signs relating to the
foundation of written language. There is also evidence that the pentagram was used in ancient
Mesopotamia to indicate the seal of royalty, and power which extends to the four corners of the earth.
The pentagram has appeared in myth and folk lore ever since that time. The Greek
Pythagoreans(Pythagoras 586-506 BCE) referred to the pentagram as'pentalpha' because it could also be
formed by laying 5 alphas (A) together. The Jews attribute the pentagram to the five books of the
Pentateuse. The Muslims attribute the pentagram to the five pillars of faith and the five times of daily
prayer. The symbol is prevailent throughout Islam and is featured both upright and inverted. Within
Christainity the pentagram symbolises the 5 wounds of Christ on the cross. In it's inverted form it is
referred to as St. Peter's Cross. According to legend St. Peter considered himself unworthy to be crucified
upright as was Jesus, so instead he was crucified upside down.
One of the last Pagan Roman Emperors, Constantine(who converted to Christianity on his death bed in
the mid 300's CE) used the pentacle as the symbol of his royal office. In Aurthurian legend the
pentagram was emblazoned in gold upon the shield of Sir Gawain and symbolised his mastery of the 5
virtues (generosity, courtesy, chastity, chivalry and piety). In the legend and thense forth throughout
England the pentagram is known as the "Endless Knot". In Freemasonry the pentagram or 5 pointed
"Seal of Solomon", is associated with Man as Microprosopus. The pentagram was particularly popular in
the Brittish traditions of Freemasonry in the 18th and 19th centuries and is still often used to represent
the seated Master of the Lodge. The Masonic symbol of the compass is set precisely to 72 degrees (1/5th
of a circle) thus covertly and very intentionally associating it with the pentagram. In the order of the
Eastern Star (the female counterpart to Masonry) no such subterfuge is employed. The symbol of the
Sisterhood is a pentagram either upright or inverted depending on the Lodge. In the case of the Order of
the Eastern Star, each point of the pentagram represents a heroine of Biblical lore (and possibly also
associated with Goddesses of pre-Biblical times).
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