Five-Pointed Star: Origin of the Shape, Flags, Real Stars and Meaning
The five-pointed star is the conventional form of the star: Egyptian hieroglyph, flags, the red star, Michelin. Why five points, and how it differs from the pentagram.
Key points
| Shape | Solid five-pointed star (the outline of the pentagram, without crossing lines) |
|---|---|
| Egypt | The hieroglyph for star (sba) has five points |
| Flags | United States, China, Morocco (hollow star), Vietnam, Ghana, Cuba, etc. |
| Red star | Emblem of the Soviet Army, then of many movements |
| Restaurant guide | Michelin stars: one to three |
| Nature | A cross-section of an apple and a starfish both have five points |
| Astronomy | Real stars are points of light; the rays are an optical effect |
Why do we draw five-pointed stars?
In the sky, a star is a point of light. To draw one, a convention had to be invented. The Egyptians depicted it as a sign with five points (the hieroglyph sba), painted in great numbers on the ceilings of tombs. The Mesopotamians instead wrote it with eight points (the cuneiform sign for "god" or "sky").
Five-pointed stars later became popular in the West because they can be drawn in a single stroke (the pentagram) or from a pentagon, and because their silhouette is easy to recognise. Six- or eight-pointed stars remain common in other cultures.
Star and pentagram: the difference
| Drawing | Description | Main use |
|---|---|---|
| Five-pointed star (solid) | The outline of the star, with no crossing lines inside | Flags, decorations, logos |
| Pentagram | The same five points drawn in a single stroke, with a pentagon at the centre | Religious, esoteric and geometric symbol |
The confusion is common. A five-pointed star on a flag is most often not an esoteric sign: it is a star.
On flags and emblems
Five-pointed stars adorn a large number of flags: fifty stars on that of the United States, four small stars around a large one on that of China, a yellow star on Vietnam, a black star in Ghana. The flag of Morocco bears a green five-pointed star drawn in a single stroke (a pentagram, called the "seal of Solomon").
The European flag, for its part, has twelve five-pointed stars in a circle. Their number is not linked to the number of member states: according to the official explanation, it symbolises perfection and completeness.
The red star
The red five-pointed star became an emblem of the Red Army in 1918, and later a symbol of the communist movement. Other uses exist, unrelated to politics, such as the red star found on many products or sports clubs.
Its meaning therefore depends on the context and the history of each country. In a piece of jewellery, it will be read differently by different people: be mindful of possible reactions.
The five-pointed star in nature
- An apple cut across shows a five-pointed star: the five seed compartments.
- The starfish most often has five arms, hence its five-pointed radial symmetry.
- Many flowers have five petals (members of the rose family, such as the wild rose and the apple tree).
- Star stones (star sapphire, star ruby, star rose quartz) generally show stars with six or four rays, not five, because of the symmetry of the crystal.
These observations are mentioned for the pleasure of looking, without drawing any proof from them: fivefold symmetry is widespread among plants and marine animals; it is a biological fact.
Real stars and their rays
The stars we see at night are distant suns, so distant that they appear as points. The rays we draw for them come from the human eye (the eyelids, the lashes, diffraction within the lens) and from instruments: the "spikes" of stars in photographs from the Hubble telescope are diffraction effects.
As for twinkling, it is caused by the Earth's atmosphere. A star is therefore not "five-pointed": the symbol is a cultural convention.
Some symbolic uses
| Context | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Star of the Shepherd / Star of Bethlehem | Guide, light, the Nativity (Matthew 2) |
| Stella maris ("star of the sea") | A title of Mary in Christianity, a guide for sailors |
| Michelin stars | Culinary distinction: one, two or three stars |
| Military decorations and insignia | Rank, merit |
| Cinema and entertainment | Celebrity (the stars of the Hollywood Walk of Fame) |
For other readings: The Stars (Lenormand), The Star (tarot), the crescent moon and the sun and its rays. For star stones, see ruby and sapphire. Our commitments: Our commitments.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a star and a pentagram?
A star is a simple outline; the pentagram is drawn in one stroke, with crossing lines and a pentagon at the centre.
Why five points?
It is a very ancient graphic convention (an Egyptian hieroglyph), easy to draw and to recognise.
What does the star on the European flag symbolise?
The twelve stars represent perfection and completeness, not the number of member states, according to the official explanation.
Do stars really have points?
No. They are points of light; the rays come from the eye or from instruments.
Does the red star always have a political meaning?
Not always, but it is strongly linked to the history of the Red Army and of communism. Context matters.
Also read
The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to Symbol dictionary.