It is possible that the pentagram was discovered by very early astronomical research, in the Tigris- Euphrates area, some 6000 years ago. Archaeologists have found fragments of pottery with the symbol, dating back to 4000 years ago.
If an apple is cut in half across its "equator" then the pattern of the seeds is revealed, a perfect five-pointed star or pentagram. The repercussions of this hidden magical symbol are far-reaching. Five, comprised of the feminine number 2 and the masculine number 3, is the number of harmony, of the union of opposites (for example in sexual congress), and of marriage. It is also the number of humankind because of the five points of extremity of the human body. Not only is the pentagram a symbol of power, but it is imbued with actual power and is used in spell casting and the revelation of secrets.
The pentagram is either pentagonal or star-shaped. The earliest representations of it appear scratched on the walls of caves, and ancient man would have a natural and automatic reverence for the stars; this is as relevant today as it was then.
The ubiquity of this sign can't be stressed enough. It has associated not only with pagan practice but also with Christian mysticism, druidry, magic, sacred geometry, alchemy, the Kabbalah; it appears in the Tarot where it can represent the suit of coins, and it is an important symbol in Freemasonry, where it is called the "Blazing Star." One instance of its use was as a secret symbol whereby followers of Pythagoras could recognise one another. Pythagoras held that 5 was the number of Man, because of both the division of the soul and of the body into five parts each. Further, the five points of the pentagram represented the elements: earth, air, fire, water and ether.
