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Early Jewish symbols included the Shofar (ram's horn), the Lulav (palm shoot), and the Menorah (seven-branched candelabra). A recognized universal symbol of the identity of the Jewish people and Judaism, the Star of David (Shield of David, Jewish Star) is on the flag of Israel. There is no archaeological validation for the use of the Jewish Star in ancient times in the Holy Land even after the reign of King David. The Shield Star of David was also not mentioned in rabbinical literature. A Shield of David was found on a thirteenth century ACE Jewish tombstone in southern Italy at Taranto. Twelfth century ACE literary writings mention that a Tetragrammaton also known as a David's shield was used on amulets. It has been suggested that the Kabbalah might have initially obtained the Star of David symbol from the Templars. In the Kabbalah the symbol was placed on amulets, and, the ten Sephiroth spheres where arranged in a similar configuration.
A 1307 CE Tanakh manuscript
belonging to a rabbi from Toledo, Spain had a Jewish Star on it. For hundreds of
years, the Star of David has been placed o Jewish tombstones in Europe.
Today many synagogues have the flag of Israel with the Star of David symbol
prominently displayed close to the Ark containing the Torah scrolls.
The shape of the Star of David was that of a hexagram. The hexagram was an occult and magical symbol used by other belief systems long before the Jews adopted it as their primary symbol. According to Jewish legends the symbol was used on the magical signet ring (the Seal of Solomon) that King Solomen used to control demons and other spirits as slave labour forcing them to build his Temple. The Jewish lore also indicated that King David had a magical protective shield with the symbol on it. Some researchers have suggested that the symbol represented the astrological chart of either the moment David's birth or his anointment as king. The symbol was known by astrologers as the "Kings Star". Ancient magical papyrus artifacts indicated that pentagrams along with stars and other symbols were often found on protective amulets bearing the Jewish names of G-d.
The pentacle was also used
as a symbol by early Jews. A pentacle was used as an architectural ornament on
an ancient synagogue at Tell Hum. The fifteenth century CE Jews had a red flag
with two pentacles and two golden stars. A pentacle also occurs in a 1073 CE
Jewish manuscript.
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