A reflection on the symbol commonly known as the Star of David, examining the hexagram, its geometric structure, historical interpretations, and its place within the larger geometry of the eight-pointed star described in the system of the seven lampstands.
Definition. The Star of David, also known as a hexagram, is a geometric figure formed by two interlaced triangles creating a six-pointed star. In many traditions it symbolizes creation, balance of opposing forces, and sacred order. In the interpretation explored in this chapter, the hexagram can be understood as part of a larger geometric system that includes the eight-pointed star and the sacred cube within the broader system of the seven lampstands.
After examining the wisdom tradition of Mishlei, we now turn to one of the most widely recognized symbols associated with Jewish tradition — the Star of David, also known as the hexagram or Shield of David. The six-pointed star appears in many cultures and historical traditions, where it has been associated with sacred geometry, creation, and symbolic order.
Key Questions
- Why has the six-pointed star appeared in many cultures under different names?
- What did ancient thinkers understand about its geometry and symbolism?
- Why did Helena Blavatsky speak of a “seventh key” within the hexagon?
- Could the symbol traditionally associated with the Shield of David represent only part of a larger sacred geometry?
- What role does the eight-pointed star play in the system described as the seven lampstands or menorah?
Contents: Star of David Geometry — The Hexagram within the Eight-Pointed Star
The Hexagon in Ancient Symbolism
Across many cultures, the hexagon and the figure formed by two interlaced triangles have been interpreted as a powerful symbol.
In her work The Secret Doctrine, Helena Blavatsky discussed the symbolic meaning of the hexagon and its internal structure.
She wrote:
“For if Pythagoras viewed the hexagon formed of two crossed triangles as the symbol of creation, and the Egyptians, as that of the union of fire and water (or of generation), the Essenes saw in it the Seal of Solomon, the Jews the Shield of David, the Hindus the Sign of Vishnu (to this day); and if even in Russia and Poland the double triangle is regarded as a powerful talisman – then so widespread a use argues that there is something in it.”
The widespread appearance of this symbol in different traditions raises an important question:
what underlying meaning caused so many cultures to recognise its significance?
The “Seventh Key” in the Hexagon
Blavatsky also referred to a “seventh key” connected with the hexagon.
She wrote:
“The seventh key is the hieroglyph of the sacred septenary, of royalty, of the priesthood [the Initiate], of triumph and true result by struggle. It is magic power in all its force, the true “Holy Kingdom.” (The Secret Doctrine III, Chapter XI)
This idea raises further questions.
Why would a hexagon — a figure of six points — be connected with a seventh key?
What could this central principle represent?
One possible interpretation is that the central point of the hexagon corresponds to the intersection of lines forming an equilateral cross inside the structure.
Two Hexagons, Not One
According to the system of the seven lampstands described in first part of this book, the commonly known six-pointed star represents only part of a larger geometric structure.
In this understanding:
- two sacred hexagons exist rather than one
- they are inseparable from each other
- their geometry arises from directions determined by the system of the lampstands.
Each pair of triangles forms a six-pointed star aligned with specific angles determined by that system.
These angles are not arbitrary.
They belong to a larger symbolic order that cannot be altered by human or computational calculation.
From the Hexagram to the Sacred Cube
The geometry discussed in this chapter can be understood as a sequence of related symbolic forms:
- Hexagram — the six-pointed star formed by two triangles.
- Two Hexagons — the expanded geometric structure.
- Equilateral Cross — the central axis of the system.
- Eight-Pointed Star — the more complete symbolic form.
- Sacred Cube — a structural form emerging from this geometry.
The Eight-Pointed Star Geometry
When the two hexagons and the equilateral cross are combined, a new figure emerges: an eight-pointed star.
At this level of understanding, the geometry of the symbol reveals a deeper order:
- the cross marks the central axis of the system,
- the hexagons define the directional structure of the figure,
- the central point becomes the ninth element within the star.
In this perspective, the eight-pointed star appears not simply as another geometric figure but as the most complete and revered sign within the symbolic system described in the teaching of the seven lampstands.
From this star arises the sacred cube — a fundamental structural form that acts as a “building block” of the order of the universe.
The relationship between the eight-pointed star and the sacred tables is explored in more detail in the chapters Eight-Pointed Star in the System of the Seven Sacred Tables and The Eight-Pointed Star as a Universal Pattern in Systematic and Magic Number Tables.
The Sacred Cube — a “Building Block” of the Universe
From the geometry of the eight-pointed star emerges another important figure: the cube.
Within this system, the cube is not merely a geometric solid. It represents a fundamental structural form — a kind of elementary “building block” through which the order of the universe becomes visible.
The symbolic and geometric meaning of this form is explored further in the chapter The Kaaba and the Sacred Geometry of the Cube.
Ancient Knowledge and Lost Manuscripts
Throughout history, many traditions have preserved fragments of ancient knowledge — in manuscripts devoted to mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, and sacred symbolism.
Large libraries once served as centres where such knowledge was gathered and preserved. Among the most famous were the Library of Alexandria and the royal library of Ashurbanipal in ancient Assyria.
Yet the fate of many historical collections raises difficult questions. Wars, political struggles, and religious conflicts often led to the destruction, dispersal, or disappearance of manuscripts.
Historians also speak of other libraries whose contents were partly lost or whose locations remain uncertain. Among them is the legendary Library of Ivan the Terrible, which according to historical accounts once contained rare manuscripts from Byzantium and earlier traditions.
Many other collections across different regions suffered similar fates. Chronicles describe how books were confiscated, hidden, burned, or scattered during periods of upheaval. Such events remind us how fragile the transmission of knowledge can be across centuries.
These events raise an important historical question:
how much knowledge from earlier civilizations has been lost or fragmented over time?
Guarding Knowledge
Throughout history, knowledge has often been intertwined with power.
The struggle for influence — whether political, religious, or economic — has sometimes led to manipulation of symbols, ideas, and historical narratives.
When reflecting on such questions, the reader may ask:
- Who benefits from controlling knowledge?
- How should sacred symbols be interpreted responsibly?
- What role do conscience and reason play in evaluating historical claims?
Related Geometry in This Book
FAQ – Star of David Geometry — The Hexagram within the Eight-Pointed Star
The Star of David, also known as the hexagram, is a geometric figure formed by two interlaced triangles. In many traditions it symbolises creation, balance of opposites, and the union of complementary forces.
Within the symbolic system discussed in this chapter, the hexagram can be understood as part of a larger geometric structure that includes the eight-pointed star and the sacred cube.
The hexagram has appeared in many civilizations as a geometric symbol associated with creation, harmony of opposites, and cosmic order. Its recurrence across cultures suggests a shared symbolic language rooted in geometry.
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