len, actually the hexagram is quite an ancient symbol, predating Judaism and David. It was not, however, a religious symbol, like the Menorah, nor is it found on the "Gate of Titus", where it would have been found as a "conquered" nation's symbol.It became quite important in Kabbalistic literature and by the 12/13 century adopted as the "Shield of David" and included it in many "magical" writings, including one in which the Holy name of 72 names is formed as an hexagram (mind you, the Kabbalistic wise rabbis could not be bothered with 72 "virgins, they preferred fathoming the name of all names, quite a number 72, it is 2 to the power of 3 times 3 to the power of 2, no greater "magic <g>). Originally, it was actually called the "Seal of Solomon" and these two terms were used interchangeably between about 1300 to 1700. The first "formal" recognition of the Shield of David as that of an "independent Jewish authority was in 1354, when Charles IV granted the Jewish community of Prague the privilege of bearing ts own flag, it was called King David's flag, and its main symbol was indeed the hexagram. I am not aware of archeological or teological proofs that the symbol on David's shield was an hexagram (there are a lot of citations that David had the menorah on his shield, made up of some of his salms). I suggest you retrace your assertion that the "Shield of David" is a recent phenomenon. Maybe not as antique as the cross, yet much more antique than our own "Stars and Stripes".
Zeev |
