An eight-pointed star is one of the oldest symbols of guidance and rebirth. In ancient Mesopotamia it marked Venus, the morning and evening star. In Orthodox icons, eight-pointed stars mark the Virgin Mary's veil and the Star of Bethlehem. Worn as a necklace, it carries the simplest meaning of all: a light to steer by.
Venus, the star that returns
The Babylonians drew the planet Venus as an eight-pointed star and linked it to the goddess Ishtar. Venus disappears from the sky and returns as the morning star, so it came to stand for renewal. The Greeks named the same planet twice: Phosphorus, the light-bringer at dawn, and Hesperus at dusk.
The stars in Orthodox icons
In Byzantine and Greek Orthodox icons, the Virgin Mary, the Panagia, is shown with three stars on her veil: one on the forehead and one on each shoulder. They are often eight-pointed. The Star of Bethlehem is drawn the same way. For many Greek families, the star is as much a devotional symbol as a celestial one.
Stars in Greek myth
- Asteria, a Titan goddess, was linked to falling stars and night oracles.
- The Pleiades, seven daughters of Atlas, were set in the sky; sailors timed their seasons by them.
- Castor and Pollux, the twins of Gemini, protected sailors at sea.
Star pieces to wear
The 14k Yellow Gold Necklace with Eight Pointed Star and Beads is recycled 14k solid gold, made to wear every day. For a lighter piece, the Celestia Necklace is named for the heavens, in 18k gold vermeil.
When to give a star
A star suits a turning point: a graduation, a move, a new job, a birth. It reads as "find your way" without needing an explanation.
FAQ
What does an eight-pointed star symbolize? Guidance, renewal and, in Christian icons, the Virgin Mary and the Nativity.
Is a star necklace religious? It can be, but it doesn't have to be. Its meanings span ancient astronomy, myth and faith.
Is celestial jewelry still in style? Single-star pendants have been steady in fine jewelry for years and age well.