Pentagram

A pentalpha is a name for a regular five-pointed star figure, which is more commonly known as a pentagram. The name comes from the Ancient Greek words pente (five) and alpha (the letter ‘A’), as the crossing of its lines suggests five ‘A’s, or five alpha shapes superimposed at different rotations.

Symbolism and Meaning

The pentalpha has held various meanings across different cultures and belief systems throughout history:

Pythagoreanism: To the ancient Greek Pythagoreans (c. 6th century BCE), it was a symbol of mutual recognition, health, and well-being. They were fascinated by its mathematical properties, particularly its relation to the golden ratio.
Early Christianity: Early Christians used the symbol to represent the five wounds of Christ received during the crucifixion (in his hands, feet, and side). It also features in the 14th-century poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, where each point represents one of five virtues of knighthood.
Freemasonry: In medieval and modern Freemasonry, the pentalpha is a symbol of deep wisdom and the bond of brotherly love uniting the fraternity.
Occultism/Wicca: In modern occult traditions and Wicca, the five points of the pentagram typically represent the four classical elements of earth, air, fire, and water, with the top point symbolizing spirit. When enclosed in a circle, it is called a pentacle and is used for protection or as a ritual tool.
Satanism: The inverted pentagram (with two points up) is a modern symbol broadly used in Satanism, as popularized by the Church of Satan since the late 1960s. It often features a goat’s head (Baphomet) and represents matter triumphing over spirit or a focus on worldly concerns.
Serer Religion: Among the Serer people of West Africa, the pentagram, called Yoonir, is an important religious symbol representing the universe, good fortune, and destiny, with the points representing the cardinal directions and the supreme deity.