Star and crescent
From Free net encyclopedia
Historical Symbol
The Star and crescent historically was a symbol of the Ottoman Empire, but later become associated with Islam in general. Now its popularity among Muslims makes it comparable to the Christian cross and the Star of David. Many Muslim nations such as Pakistan use it on their national flag, as does the secular Republic of Turkey, the successor state to the Ottoman Empire.
The Muslims in Bosnia-Herzegovina have also a similar national flag but due to the non-Muslim population in the country the flag is not the official flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Islamic version of the Red Cross is known as the Red Crescent.
Very probably the star in this symbolises Venus. Venus indeed may often be seen close to the Moon at the first sighting of the new crescent (the hilal) after New Moon, usually shortly after sunset, which marks the start of the first day of a new month in the lunar Islamic calendar.
In Unicode, the "Star and crescent" symbol is U+262A
☪.
Flag of Pakistan |
Flag of Turkey |
Flag of Muslims in Bosnia-Herzegovina |
Symbol of Kappa Sigma Fraternity
The Star and Crescent is also one of the symbols of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and is as follows: "The Star and Crescent shall not be worn by every man, but only by him who is worthy to wear it. He must be a gentleman ... a man of honor and courage ... a man of zeal, yet humble ... an intelligent man ... a man of truth ... one who tempers action with wisdom and, above all else, one who walks in the light of God." (E. Bradford Holbrouk Jr., Sigma '63)
The Star and Crescent of Kappa Sigma |