[From Cartari's Imagini degli Dei degli Antichi]
"The number five was peculiarly associated by the Pythagoreans with the art of healing, and the pentagram, or five-pointed star, was to them the symbol of health. The above figure represents a magical ring set with a talismanic gem bearing the pentalpha, or star formed by five different positions of the Greek Alpha. On this subject Mackey writes: 'The disciples of Pythagoras, who were indeed its real inventors, placed within each of its interior angles one of the letters of the Greek word ΥΓΕΙΑ, or the Latin one SALUS, both of which signify health; and thus it was made the talisman of health. They placed it at the beginning of their epistles as a greeting to invoke a secure health to their correspondent. But its use was not confined to the disciples of Pythagoras. As a talisman, it was employed all over the East as a charm to resist evil spirits.' "
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Reference:
Hall, Manly P. "Stones, Metals and Gems". THE SECRET TEACHINGS OF ALL AGES. San Francisco: H.S. Crocker Company, 1928. 100.
Endnote:
With hope, this historical evidence will allay the fears of many regarding the alleged "evilness and wickedness" of the Pentacle and the Pentagram; for an in depth and cogent study about the Pythagorean Pentacle, please consult the following text or connect with the Temple:
"The Pythagorean Pentacle" by Apollonios Sophistes © 1996, revised 1999
http://www.cs.utk.edu/~mclennan/BA/PP/index.html
http://www.cs.utk.edu/~mclennan/BA/bio.html
Blesséd Be!
ToKW
