The Pentagram is an ancient symbol that has been used by many different religions, although in present time it is rarely found outside of Paganism and Satanism. It is commonly seen as part of a pentacle, which is simply a Pentagram (5-pointed star) with a circle connecting the points.

Brief History:

The earliest known use of the Pentagram was around 3500 BCE (Before Common Era). Some known uses of the Pentagram include the following:

· It was a symbol of the Godhead to the Druids.

· The ancient Greeks called it the Pentalpha, since it is
geometrically composed of five A's.

· The Egyptians used it as a symbol of the 'underground womb',and it bore a symbolic relationship to the concept of the pyramid form.

· It was the symbol of the goddess Morrigan to the Celtic Irish.

· The Gnostics called it the Blazing Star, and used it as a symbol of the mysteries of the night sky.

· Up to the time of the Inquisition, early Christians saw the Pentagram as a sign of the five wounds of Christ. (No 'evil' associations were made with the Pentagram in those days.) Once the Inquisition began, the Pentagram suddenly came to symbolize a Goat's Head or the Devil (as Baphomet). Pagan horned gods, such as Pan, were seen through Christian eyes as the Devil at this point as well. What was originally a symbol of security had become a symbol of evil, and become known as the Witch's Foot.

In Hermeticism, after the Inquisition, the Pentagram was used to symbolize man. (The top point was associated with the head, the two bottom points with the feet, and the two side points with the hands.) This symbolism of the relationship of the head to the four body limbs led to the association of "pure concentrated essence of anything" (or Spirit) to the four elements; Earth, Fire, Water, and Air. This is how the Pentagram is commonly symbolized in modern Pagan practice. The first graphical illustration of the Pentagram as being evil did not occur until the 19th century. Eliphaz Levi Zahed (or Levi) illustrated the upside-down Pentagram with the goat's head of Baphomet. This illustration, next to the upright Pentagram illustrating man, led to the different orientations of the Pentagram meaning 'good' and 'evil'. The upside-down Pentagram (with the image of Baphomet) was adopted by Anton LeVay's Church of Satan as its emblem. The Christian church's reaction was to condemn the Pentagram, and anyone who used it, as 'evil'.

Whether the Pentagram was upright or upside-down did not matter. Although there are some Pagan traditions that still use the upside-down Pentagram in some way, most Pagans have stopped using it, so as not to be confused with Satanists.

Modern Pagan Usage

The upright Pentagram is currently used as a symbol of Spirit ruling the world of matter (the four elements). This is quite the opposite of the basic Satanism doctrine of 'physical over spiritual', which is symbolized by the upside-down Pentagram. (Note: This is the most common symbology used for the Pentagram, and some Pagan traditions may use it differently.) The pentacle is seen more often than the Pentagram nowadays. The difference between these two symbols is the circle which connects the five points of the Pentagram. This circle has been said to symbolize many things, but two of the most common ways of seeing the circle are:

· It symbolizes the unity of the 'five' elements, or

· It symbolizes protection given by the Divinity (or God/Goddess)

The Pentagram can be used in ritual in the calling down of the elements. In this way, the Pentagram is usually drawn in the air (using the Athame or hand) at each direction while invoking or banishing the element. You may see the directions of banishing and invoking in the above graphics (b-banishing & I-invoking). Different ways of drawing the Pentagram are used depending on which element is being called upon, and whether the element is being invoked (called on) or banished (sent away). As a symbol by itself, the pentacle is also used as a symbol for the Earth element and the Gods. Examples of its use in this way include:

· It is used in some Tarot decks instead of coins or disks, which are the Earth 'suit' of the Tarot deck.

· Inscribed in a disk (usually made of wood, although other materials can be used), it is commonly found representing Earth on altars, with other items on the altar representing the other elements.

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