The star is also found in Islamic art and architecture, where it is known as the Rub el Hizb. This is very similar in appearance to a ship’s wheel, which is also highly symbolic in its own right, although the symbolism with the ship’s wheel is secular rather than religious. In Buddhism, an eight-pointed wheel, known as the Dharma Chakra, is used to represent the Eightfold Path as outlined by Lord Buddha. In Christian symbolism, the eight points represent the eight beatitudes. The eight-pointed star is also known as the Star of Bethlehem, which is the star that is said to have guided the Three Wise Men to the baby Jesus. These deities were sometimes represented by octagrams. The number eight was also sacred in ancient Egyptian mythology, due to the nature of the Ogdoad – a group of eight primeval gods. The eight-pointed star later appeared in Ancient Egypt, where it was associated with the goddess Isis. Ishtar has been equated with the Greek Aphrodite and the Roman Venus.
They used it as a decorative motif on their pottery and jewelry, but the symbol was also associated with their goddess Ishtar.
The first recorded use of the symbol was by the Babylonians around 3000 BC. The origin of the eight-pointed star is unknown, but it is thought to date back to ancient times. The 8-Pointed Star Is a Symbol with A Long and Varied History
