Monday, June 09, 2008

The Star of Abdul?

Israeli DevilAll these years I thought it was the Star of David, but it turns out I was wrong.

What about all those cartoons in the Arab press that feature a six-pointed star on demons, devils, cannibals, murderers, etc. — does this mean they’re really Muslims?

Here’s the latest from ANSAmed:

CAIRO, June 9 — Judaism’s most famous symbols, Magen David and Menorah, were originated in other cultures and have nothing to do with the Jews, said an Egyptian archaeologist.

According to Abdul-Rehim Rihan, head of Dahab Antiquities, some of the antiquities unearthed in Sinai Peninsula revealed that the Star of David was created as an Islamic decoration. The six-pointed star was found at the entry of Al-Gundi fort, founded by Saladin from 1183 to 1187 along the military route connecting the Suez and Aqaba gulfs. The symbol was also marked on a bowl dating back to the Fatimid era that was uncovered by a South Sinai Antiquities expedition in 1997 in Ras Raya district in Tour Sinai, 420 km from Cairo.
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The Egyptian archaeologist continued to say that the Menorah, the seven-branched and nine-branched candelabrums, has no special Jewish base. The Menorah was originally described in the Old Testament as a Roman candelabrum dating back to emperor Titus’ era, he said. Menorah is a ceremonial seven-branched candelabrum of the Jewish Temple symbolizing the seven days of the Creation.

Rihan said even the Jewish temples were built in the prevailing construction style in its home countries. The Jewish temples in Andalusia was built in the Andalusian design, while in Egypt, the Jewish temples were designed after the same style most ancient churches in Egypt were built, he added.


Hat tip: insubria.

20 comments:

Western Resistance said...

Fascinating. I'm very interested in archaeology. There's nothing controversial about this theory. No doubt there were a variety of cultural influences in the ancient world. It is amusing, however, to see an Arab deconstructing Jewish culture, since Jews are so adept at deconstructing (and subverting) the civilisations of others. Funny.

Joanne said...

The triangle and inverted triangle are actually pagan symbols; there never was a star of David.

Baron Bodissey said...

Saharians --

Your comment is gratuitous Jew-bashing. In addition to being offensive, it's off-topic, and I'll delete any further manifestations.

To the rest of our commenters: don't take this as an opportunity to launch yet another festival of Jew-hatred, or I'll close the post to further comments, as I have had to do with so many others.

Western Resistance said...

Bodissey ~ Eh, how is that "Jew-bashing"? "Offensive"? Good grief. Grow up, man.

Joanne ~ Yes, you're right. The crescent (moon) symbol of Islam is also of pagan origin. But try telling that to a believing Muslim. ;)

the doctor said...

No you have all missed the point . Moses was a Muslim , so was King David and the rest ; oh yes , Jesus entered Jerusalem on a camel not a donkey .
Do you not know that the sum of all human knowledge was discovered by the followers of Islam . Really you are all very silly !

the doctor said...

Sorry , could not resist that display of poor taste .

Dymphna said...

@saharians --

since Jews are so adept at deconstructing (and subverting) the civilisations of others.

and..

Bodissey ~ Eh, how is that "Jew-bashing"? "Offensive"? Good grief. Grow up, man.

If you can't see the offense in accusing a whole group of people with "subverting the civilizations of others" then any explanation on our part won't help.

You first statement was anti-Semitic. Your defence of said statement is disingenuous at best.

At this rate, you won't have a long shelf-life here.

Zenster said...

The monumental hubris entailed in such constant Muslim revisionism continually erodes my otherwise firm opposition to Islamic acquisition of active nuclear technology. Their predictable claim of having discovered atomic weapons should be accompanied by a vivid demonstration of ownership. As in: Invent this!

Tuan Jim said...

"The Egyptian archaeologist continued to say that the Menorah, the seven-branched and nine-branched candelabrums, has no special Jewish base. The Menorah was originally described in the Old Testament as a Roman candelabrum dating back to emperor Titus’ era, he said. Menorah is a ceremonial seven-branched candelabrum of the Jewish Temple symbolizing the seven days of the Creation."

-- I don't know if that's how it's described in the Koran, but I have no idea where he's coming up with the Roman reference - since the original 7-light lamp was part of the original Tabernacle in the book of Exodus in the plans given by God. That'd be a good question for Robert Spencer's blogging the Koran.

OMMAG said...

Funny that ... a cursory review of the timeline for Judaism as opposed to Islam would indicate that the former existed for about 2200 years before the later emerged. that would be 1812 BC as opposed to 540 AD

Talk about revisionist.....

While it may be true that the symbols are not direct creations of the Kings or the people of Judea one thing is certain. They are NOT the creations of Arabs.

no2liberals said...

"At this rate, you won't have a long shelf-life here."

Good riddance.
The type of hatred saharians displays makes me think agent provocateur.

Minicapt said...

OMMAG
Islam was invented c.AD630.

More to the point, the Old Testament was completed about 500BC, but the Emperor Titus began his reign in AD79. Thus, we have an archaeologist who has problems with dates. And thus: grounds to query his other 'statements of fact'.

Cheers
JMH

Nimby said...

The Arch of Titus (C 70) in Rome shows Roman soldiers carrying menorahs as part of the loot taken from the destruction of the Jeruslem temple.

randian said...

Why do Muslims have such a pathological need to prove they invented everything?

Robohobo said...

randian - Because they really have invented very little of use or value in the world.

Morgan said...

Baron and Dymphna, I wanted to let you know I excerpted the first two paragraphs of the post in my own blog. If you have any objections, let me know.

Zenster said...

randian: One wonders how much longer the ruling Alawites in Syria will be tolerated by the Sunni majority.

Easy. For about fifteen seconds after the last living Ahmadiyya has been exterminated. Like few other historical entities, Islam is its own very worst enemy.

Robohobo: Because they really have invented very little of use or value in the world.

One can only imagine how severely compounded Islam's already crippling inferiority complex must be by the fact that it also has absolutely no redeeming features. At best, the entire spiritual pisspot known as Islam is a giantic collective contest over who can be the most intolerant, unlettered, superstitious, Puritanical wife-beater of them all. Not much in the way of bragging rights if you ask me.

Consider for one moment how—if you subtract petroleum related revenues—the combined annual GDP of the entire MME (Muslim Middle East) is a whopping $500 million, a figure handily earned by Finland's telecom giant Nokia alone.

A single Western company can meet or beat the entire MME's collective industrial output. You know that's gotta make them go limp every time they even think about it.

randian said...

For about fifteen seconds after the last living Ahmadiyya has been exterminated.

If by that you mean "killing the Ahmadiyya would be the breakthrough event that leads to the orthodox Muslims killing the rest of the unorthodox sects", I agree with you. I would go one farther. If that logjam breaks, every minority faith is at risk throughout the Muslim world: Christians, Jews, Hindus, etc. A growing storm of Muslim rage will be visited on everybody. I (and no doubt the Muslim governments) calculate Western nations will not intervene.

Zenster said...

randian :If by that you mean "killing the Ahmadiyya would be the breakthrough event that leads to the orthodox Muslims killing the rest of the unorthodox sects", I agree with you.

Although my comment was more tongue-in-cheek, you certainly picked up the ball and ran with it for a goal. My major point is that Muslims will always do what they do the very best, and that is kill other Muslims.

I can foresee an end to Islam when two last white-clad imams are found dead in the Empty Quarter with fingers locked firmly around each others' neck after arguing who was the most pure.

Your point still stands in that Islam's endless process of purging itself like some sort of anorexic spiritual supermodel will probably see the eventual extermination of sub-sects like the Ahmadiyya as a routine part of its "purification". Pakistan's continuous internecine strife in its role as the "Land of the Pure" stands as a shining example of this.

ZZMike said...

One of the tactics of Islam is to "prove" that Israel has no foundation in history. This is nothing more than more of the same.

The fact remains that Judaism has at least a 1000-year head start over Islam (which started about the year 630 AD).