Star and Crescent Symbol ☪
A symbol that has been used for centuries, the Star and Crescent is well-known for its connections to both Islam and the Ottoman Empire. A star—typically a five-pointed star—is positioned next to a crescent moon. This symbol's rich history goes beyond the religious meanings it carries today.
Historical Background
Origins:
- been used since prehistoric times. It was in use by the Hittites and Sumer long before it was connected to Islamic culture.
- The symbol was used to represent the Virgin Mary in Byzantine iconography.
Adoption in Islamic Context:
- The Ottoman Empire adopted the symbol, and particularly in the 19th century, it came to be associated with Islam.
- It is noteworthy that, in contrast to the Christian cross or Jewish Star of David, the Star and Crescent is not a universally acknowledged symbol of Islam. This symbol is not used at all in many Muslim nations and communities.
Cultural Significance
- Ottoman Empire: The Star and Crescent, which was prominently displayed on the empire's flag, came to be connected to the power and cultural sway of the empire.
- Use in the Present: Several nations that were formerly under the Ottoman Empire's dominion, including Turkey, Pakistan, and Tunisia, still display the symbol on their flags.
- Religious Interpretations: Some interpret the Star and Crescent as representing the characteristics of Islamic faith: the crescent representing progress, and the star reflecting light and knowledge.
Misconceptions and Controversies
- Contrary to popular belief, the Star and Crescent is not a universal representation of Islam.
- Historians disagree on the symbol's pre-Islamic pagan origins, although some hold this view.
The Star and Crescent is a historically and culturally significant symbol. Although it is frequently linked to the Ottoman Empire and, to a lesser degree, Islam, its roots and connotations are multifaceted and intricate. Knowing the background and meaning of this symbol provides insight into the diverse range of human civilization and its changing manifestations in culture.
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Star and Crescent Symbol Information
| Symbol Name | Star and Crescent |
| Unicode Version | 1.1 (June 1993) |
| Unicode | U+262A |
| CSS Code | \262A |
| Hex Code | ☪ |
| HTML Code | ☪ |
Star and Crescent Symbol Encoding
| UTF-8 | 0xE2 0x98 0xAA |
| UTF-16 | 0x262A |
| UTF-32 | 0x0000262A |
Table of contents
- Star and Crescent PNG and SVG files
- How to type star and crescent on Microsoft Word
- How to type star and crescent on Microsoft Windows
- How to type star and crescent on Mac OS
- How to type star and crescent on Linux
- How to type star and crescent on IOS and Android
- How to use star and crescent in CSS
- How to use star and crescent in HTML
- Star and Crescent representation in programming languages
Star and Crescent symbol's PNG and SVG files
How to add star and crescent symbol via keyboard on different Operating systems
You can type the star and crescent on most modern devices with the help of following methods:
How to type star and crescent symbol on Microsoft Word
You can type the star and crescent on microsoft Microsoft Word using steps mentioned below:
- Place your cursor in the text area where you need to insert the symbol and type 2 6 2 A
- Without moving the cursor press keys Alt + x together
- The original 2 6 2 A is now transformed into ☪
How to type star and crescent symbol on Microsoft Windows
You can type the star and crescent on Microsoft windows using following steps:
- Hold Alt and press to type star and crescent on your windows machine.
How to type star and crescent symbol on Mac OS
You can type the star and crescent on Mac OS using following steps:
- Place your cursor in the text area where you need to insert the symbol
- Press Ctrl + ⌘ Command + ⎵ Space to bring up the Character Viewer. Alternatively, choose Edit ⇒ Emoji & Symbols
- Type “Star and Crescent” in the search field at the top and press Enter
- The symbol should appear. Click on it to insert it into your text
How to type star and crescent symbol on Linux
You can type the star and crescent on Linux using following steps:
- Place your cursor in the text area where you need to insert the symbol
- Hold ⇧ Shift + Ctrl and press the letter + U
- Press keys 2 6 2 A consecutively
- And then press ↵ Enter , the desired symbol will be added to your document
How to type star and crescent symbol on IOS and Android
The easiest way to type the star and crescent on ios and android is to copy and paste it wherever you need it.
How to use star and crescent in CSS
span {
content: "\262A";
}
How to type star and crescent in HTML
<span>☪</span>
Star and Crescent symbol representation in programming languages
star and crescent's representation in different programming languages can be found in table below:
| Language | Representation |
| Rust | \u{262A} |
| Ruby | \u{262A} |
| Python | \u262A |
| PHP | \u{262A} |
| Perl | "\x{262A}" |
| Java | \u262A |
| Modern JavaScript - Since ES6 | \u{262A} |
| JavaScript | \u262A |
| Go | \u262A |
| C# | \u262A |
| C and C++ | \u262A |
| Bash and Zsh - inside echo -e | \u262A |
| RFC 5137 | \u'262A' |