Pentagram | Design, Shape, Star, Supernatural, Definition, & Meaning (2024)

symbol

verifiedCite

While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

Select Citation Style

Feedback

Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

Print

verifiedCite

While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

Select Citation Style

Feedback

Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

Written by

Alison Eldridge Alison Eldridge was Managing Editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Alison Eldridge

Fact-checked by

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Article History

pentagram

See all media

Related Topics:
modern Paganism
golden ratio
symbol
the number five

See all related content →

pentagram, a five-pointed star, usually drawn by using one continuous line of five straight segments. It has been used throughout history as a symbol, often in magic or the occult. Its meaning has varied wildly over time, and it has functioned as a symbol of protection, of perfection, of the Devil, and of humanity, among others. Mathematically, the segments of the pentagram exhibit the golden ratio, which perhaps makes the figure especially aesthetically pleasing.

The pentagram has been in use for thousands of years. In ancient times it was featured in tombs and seals of Egypt and Mesopotamia and coins of Greece. The pentagram was a symbol of the Greek mathematician and philosopher Pythagoras and his disciples, probably in part as a way for followers to recognize each other. Some sources say the Pythagoreans regarded it as a symbol of health and knowledge, and in some depictions the Greek letters for the word “health” are placed at its points. It may also have been used by the Greeks and others generally as a symbol to ward off evil, and it has been seen in pottery of the ancient kingdom of Judaea, maybe as a mark of tax collectors.

In the Middle Ages in Europe, pentagrams were used as a symbol of the five knightly virtues. In the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the titular Sir Gawain wears a golden pentagram on both his shawl and his shield as a mark of his virtue, loyalty, and kindness. Pentagrams were also used to defend against witches, evil spirits, and demons.

In the 16th century, Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim published a version of the pentagram that symbolized man as a perfected work of God, with head, hands, and feet representing the five points and symbols of the five (known) planets around them. The French occultist Éliphas Lévi in the 19th century expanded on this concept with the “tetragrammaton pentagram,” which includes a variety of symbols that represent human existence. In addition to planetary and astrological symbols, this pentagram includes symbols of the four elements and Hebrew letters. The pentagram was also used by the Freemasons, who sometimes placed a G in the centre for gnosis, generation, and the Grand Architect. A history of the Freemasons from the late 19th century notes the variety of uses—as a symbol of man, a demon, protection, magic, and others.

Pentagrams have also been used in a variety of religious contexts. Among Muslims the pentagram is known as Solomon’s seal, and its five points are regarded in at least one tradition as representing love, truth, peace, freedom, and justice, respectively. It is also the official symbol of the Bahāʾī Faith, though not its most prevalent. For the Bahāʾī it is sometimes called the haykal, which means “temple” or “body” in Arabic. Among Christians it has symbolized the five wounds of Christ—his hands and feet punctured by the Crucifixion and his side pierced by a soldier’s spear—as well as the Star of Bethlehem and Christ himself.

In modern times the pentagram is most often associated with Neo-Pagan religions, especially Wicca. It is often depicted enclosed in a circle, a symbol known as a pentacle. In these traditions the five points often represent the five elements of air, fire, water, earth, and spirit. For Wiccans the pentagram may also symbolize masculine and feminine, or the Triple Goddess (three points) and the Horned God (two points). Many Neo-Pagans consider the pentagram a symbol of protection and may use it to invoke or banish spirits. The pentacle is the approved symbol of the Wiccan faith to be used on headstones in U.S. government cemeteries.

Special 67% offer for students! Finish the semester strong with Britannica.

Learn More

Sometimes the inverted figure of the pentagram, with two points facing upward and one facing down, is associated with negative or “black” magic and devil worship. Indeed, the inverted pentagram figures in the sigil of Baphomet, one of the main symbols of the Church of Satan, an atheistic organization that evokes in its imagery the Devil as viewed in Christianity but does not worship any god or being or require that its members perform any rituals, magical or otherwise. The sigil of Baphomet depicts a goat with its horns in the upturned points of the star. This likely stems from the 19th-century European revival of occult studies, during which time it was held that a pentagram with one point facing upward symbolized ascendance, God, and supremacy of the spirit and a pentagram with one point facing downward symbolized Satan, infernalism (everlasting torment), and descent of the spirit. This is perhaps why in Wicca the pentagram is most often depicted with one point facing upward.

Alison Eldridge

Pentagram | Design, Shape, Star, Supernatural, Definition, & Meaning (2024)

FAQs

What does a pentagram mean in Supernatural? ›

Its meaning has varied wildly over time, and it has functioned as a symbol of protection, of perfection, of the Devil, and of humanity, among others. Mathematically, the segments of the pentagram exhibit the golden ratio, which perhaps makes the figure especially aesthetically pleasing.

What is the true meaning of the pentagram? ›

In the past, the pentagram was commonly seen as a symbol for good and for protection against evil. One of the earliest recorded uses for the pentagram was by the Pythagoreans as a sign of initiation for its mathematical relation to the golden ratio and common presence in naturally occurring shapes.

What does a five-pointed star symbolize? ›

The pentagram can mean different things to different Wiccans, but it is generally accepted as a symbol of five elements: spirit, water, fire, earth, and air. It is typically surrounded by a circle, symbolizing the unity of these elements in the universe.

Is a pentagram a protective symbol? ›

Based on Renaissance-era occultism, the pentagram found its way into the symbolism of modern occultists. Its major use is a continuation of the ancient Babylonian use of the pentagram as an apotropaic charm to protect against evil forces.

What does the pentagon shape symbolize? ›

Here are some key aspects of its symbolism:

They associated it with the golden ratio, a mathematical proportion considered to be the epitome of beauty and harmony. The pentagon also symbolized the five classical elements: earth, air, fire, water, and ether, representing the fundamental components of the natural world.

What does the star symbol mean spiritually? ›

The Star consists of two equilateral triangles – one pointing upwards, the other pointing down. The coming together of these triangles symbolises our aspiration to the world above, and the grace of heaven meeting the yearning for growth in the world below and becoming one.

What is a pentagram used for in the Bible? ›

Historically, the pentagram, a five-pointed star, has been associated with various meanings, including its connection to the Five Wounds of Christ. The Five Wounds of Christ refer to the crucifixion wounds Jesus suffered: the nail wounds in His hands and feet, and the spear wound in His side.

What is the difference between a pentagon and a pentagram? ›

A pentagram is a five-pointed star-shaped polygon, while a pentagon is a five-sided polygon with straight sides. In a pentagram, the lines extend outward, creating a star-like appearance, whereas a pentagon has its sides connected, forming a closed shape with five sides.

What is the pagan symbol for protection? ›

The pentacle is used for protection: Or another protection symbol is the Norse rune algiz, which is also called the “Witch's foot.”

What faith is symbolized by a five-pointed star? ›

The five-pointed star, pentagram, or haykal (Arabic: temple) is a symbol of the Baháʼí Faith as mentioned by Shoghi Effendi, head of the Baháʼí Faith in the first half of the 20th century: "Strictly speaking the 5-pointed star is the symbol of our Faith, as used by the Báb and explained by Him." The five-pointed star ...

What is the five-pointed star spiritual eye? ›

The five-pointed star at the center of the spiritual eye is the doorway through which our minds can penetrate into the inner kingdom. The five points correspond, interestingly, to the shape of the human body.

What do the five stars represent? ›

Papua New Guinea Flag Meaning:

The five stars symbolize the constellation the Southern Cross, representing the stars Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Epsilon, which is smaller because it doesn't shine as brightly as the other stars.

Does luck affect pentagram? ›

Pentagram initially has a 10% chance to not destroy items, which is increased at levels 3, 5 and 7. This chance is affected by the character's Luck.

What's the difference between a pentacle and a pentagram? ›

The difference between the pentagram and the pentacle (although very often the term is used interchangeably today) is that the pentagram is only the five-pointed star, whereas the pentacle is a five-pointed star within a circle.

What is a star witch? ›

You're a star witch, and very heavily influenced by the movement of the planets and stars. The night sky is reassuring to you, and you know that you can draw upon the energy of the stars any time you choose and direct them into your life.

What does the star with wings mean? ›

ARMY AVIATOR BADGES

A star is added above the shield to indicate qualification as a Senior Army Aviator. The star is surrounded with a laurel wreath to indicate qualification as a Master Army Aviator. SYMBOLISM: The wings suggest flight and reflect the skills associated with aerial flight.

What is Winchester's symbol supernatural? ›

Anti-possession symbols are a method to ward off demonic possession. It features a pentagram, or endless knot, which is the reason why it protects those who wear this symbol. The only people known to have this symbol tattooed on their bodies are Sam, Dean Winchester, Sera Siege, Mary Winchester, and Dean Winchester II.

What does the star spiral symbol mean? ›

It's associated with the creation of the world. The Celts believed in the existence of the universe and stars. They believed in the immortality of the spirit. The spiral represents the transformation of nature and the evolution of energy. It was used as a protective amulet in everyday objects.

What does the 5 star tattoo mean? ›

Five-pointed star tattoos can also be relative to the five elements: air, earth, fire, water and spirit. Mathematicians view them as symbols representing mathematical perfection while others chose five-pointed star tattoos for protection against evil.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Msgr. Refugio Daniel

Last Updated:

Views: 6344

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Msgr. Refugio Daniel

Birthday: 1999-09-15

Address: 8416 Beatty Center, Derekfort, VA 72092-0500

Phone: +6838967160603

Job: Mining Executive

Hobby: Woodworking, Knitting, Fishing, Coffee roasting, Kayaking, Horseback riding, Kite flying

Introduction: My name is Msgr. Refugio Daniel, I am a fine, precious, encouraging, calm, glamorous, vivacious, friendly person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.