The New Testament's Book of Revelation (12:1, 2 & 5) describes the Woman of the Apocalypse: And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars. And she being with child cried, travailing in birth. .... And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron:and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.[3] In Catholic tradition she has been identified with the Blessed Virgin Mary, especially in connection with the Immaculate Conception. Mary is often pictured with a crown[4] or Circle of Stars.
The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception was somewhat controversial in the medieval church, and the liturgical Office for the feast was only established in 1615. In 1649, Francisco Pacheco (father-in-law of Velázquez) published his Art of Painting firmly establishing the detailed correct iconography for paintings of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, which included the circle of stars (he also advised the inquisition in Seville on artistic matters). This was followed by Murillo and his school in very many paintings, and influenced non-Spanish depictions.[5][6]
The European flag, first adopted by the Council of Europe, consists of 12 golden stars in a circle on a blue background. The stars symbolise the ideals of unity, solidarity and harmony among the peoples of Europe.[7] The number of stars has nothing to do with the number of member countries, though the circle is a symbol of unity.[7]
Arsène Heitz, one of the flag designers, in 1987 revealed that his inspiration was the crown of twelve stars of the Woman of the Apocalypse, often found in modern Marian iconography.[8] However, he did not suggest that the finished design held a religious meaning. Paul M. G. Lévy, the official responsible for the design process, denied any religious inspiration for the flag design.[9][10]
Zodiacedit
6th century synagogue Zodiac, Beit Alpha, Israel
The Zodiac is an ancient circle of stars[11] where some stars are symbolically combined into 12 star signs also known as constellations. The etymology of the term Zodiac comes from the Latin zōdiacus, from the Greek ζῳδιακός [κύκλος], meaning "[circle] of animals", derived from ζῴδιον, the diminutive of ζῷον "animal".
Crown of Immortalityedit
The Crown of Immortality is a separate and earlier motif (and metaphor) which also uses a circle of stars. It has been widely used since the Early Church as a metaphor for the reward awaiting martyrs, but they are not depicted in art wearing a circle of stars. In art the use is mainly in Baroque allegorical compositions, and those with Ariadne.
^"Real politics, at last". The Economist. October 28, 2004. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
^ Carlo Curti Gialdino, I Simboli dell'Unione europea, Bandiera - Inno - Motto - Moneta - Giornata. Roma: Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato S.p.A., 2005. ISBN88-240-2503-X, pp. 80-85. Gialdino is here cited after a translation of the Italian text published by the Centre Virtuel de la Connaissance sur l'Europe (cvce.eu)
^European Union: Myths on the flag, Flags of the World, 2002 [1995], retrieved August 4, 2007 "While Count Coudenhove-Kalergi in a personal statement maintained that three leading Catholics within the Council had subconsciously chosen the twelve stars on the model of Apocalypse 12:1, Paul M.G. Lévy, Press Officer of the Council from 1949 to 1966, explained in 1989 that there was no religious intention whatsoever associated with the choice of the circle of twelve stars." Peter Diem, 11 June 2002
^Jeffrey Armstrong | A Western Master of Eastern Wisdom 2008-06-08 at the Wayback Machine
April 12, 2024
circle, stars, circle, stars, often, represents, unity, solidarity, harmony, flags, seals, signs, also, seen, iconographic, motifs, related, woman, apocalypse, well, baroque, allegoric, that, sometimes, depicts, crown, immortality, carlo, dolci, madonna, glory. A circle of stars often represents unity solidarity and harmony in flags 1 seals 2 and signs and is also seen in iconographic motifs related to the Woman of the Apocalypse as well as in Baroque allegoric art that sometimes depicts the Crown of Immortality Carlo Dolci Madonna in Glory c 1670 oil on canvas Stanford Museum California Contents 1 Woman of the Apocalypse 2 European Flag 3 Zodiac 4 Crown of Immortality 5 Art gallery 5 1 Religious 5 2 Non religious 5 2 1 Flags 5 2 2 Seals 6 See also 7 External links 8 ReferencesWoman of the Apocalypse edit nbsp Diego Velazquez s Immaculate Conception 1618 The New Testament s Book of Revelation 12 1 2 amp 5 describes the Woman of the Apocalypse And there appeared a great wonder in heaven a woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet and upon her head a crown of twelve stars And she being with child cried travailing in birth And she brought forth a man child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron and her child was caught up unto God and to his throne 3 In Catholic tradition she has been identified with the Blessed Virgin Mary especially in connection with the Immaculate Conception Mary is often pictured with a crown 4 or Circle of Stars The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception was somewhat controversial in the medieval church and the liturgical Office for the feast was only established in 1615 In 1649 Francisco Pacheco father in law of Velazquez published his Art of Painting firmly establishing the detailed correct iconography for paintings of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception which included the circle of stars he also advised the inquisition in Seville on artistic matters This was followed by Murillo and his school in very many paintings and influenced non Spanish depictions 5 6 European Flag editFurther information Flag of Europe The European flag first adopted by the Council of Europe consists of 12 golden stars in a circle on a blue background The stars symbolise the ideals of unity solidarity and harmony among the peoples of Europe 7 The number of stars has nothing to do with the number of member countries though the circle is a symbol of unity 7 Arsene Heitz one of the flag designers in 1987 revealed that his inspiration was the crown of twelve stars of the Woman of the Apocalypse often found in modern Marian iconography 8 However he did not suggest that the finished design held a religious meaning Paul M G Levy the official responsible for the design process denied any religious inspiration for the flag design 9 10 Zodiac edit nbsp 6th century synagogue Zodiac Beit Alpha IsraelThe Zodiac is an ancient circle of stars 11 where some stars are symbolically combined into 12 star signs also known as constellations The etymology of the term Zodiac comes from the Latin zōdiacus from the Greek zῳdiakos kyklos meaning circle of animals derived from zῴdion the diminutive of zῷon animal Crown of Immortality editThe Crown of Immortality is a separate and earlier motif and metaphor which also uses a circle of stars It has been widely used since the Early Church as a metaphor for the reward awaiting martyrs but they are not depicted in art wearing a circle of stars In art the use is mainly in Baroque allegorical compositions and those with Ariadne Art gallery editReligious edit nbsp A star circle halo is found on a ceiling fresco in an Annunciation Church located in Fuchstal a Municipality of the Bavarian district of Landsberg Germany nbsp Blessed Virgin Mary in St Mary s Pro Cathedral Dublin Primate of Ireland with a star circle halo nbsp Virgin Mary with a crown of stars in La Salette Grenoble clarify France nbsp Crown of Immortality held by the Allegoric figure Eterna Eternity on the Swedish House of Knights Fresco by David Klocker Ehrenstrahl nbsp Our Lady the Garden Enclosed statue of Our Lady of Sorrows at the hermitage church in Warfhuizen the Netherlands nbsp The statue of Our Lady of Sorrows Zejtun Malta nbsp Blessed Virgin Mary Basilica di San Giulio Orta Italy nbsp Madonna with Halo of Stars Italy 17th century nbsp Regina Angelorum by William Adolphe Bouguereau 1900Non religious edit Flags edit nbsp The Flag of Europe with circle of stars representing European unity nbsp Flag of the International Paneuropean Union the stars were added after the creation of the Flag of Europe nbsp Flag of United States Foreign Service Officer nbsp The Betsy Ross flag early version of the Flag of the United States flag nbsp CSN Jack 1861 1863 nbsp Flags of the Confederate States of America 1861 1863 nbsp Flag of Missouri nbsp Flag of Rhode Island nbsp Flag of Georgia U S state nbsp Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine nbsp Flag of Myanmar Burma 1974 2010 nbsp United States Yacht Ensign nbsp Flag of the Cook Islands nbsp Flag of Cape Verde nbsp Flag of Indiana nbsp Flag of Louisiana January 1861 unofficial nbsp Flag of Los Rios Region Chile nbsp Flag of AmbazoniaSeals edit nbsp The FBI seal where the circle of stars represent unity of 13 original states nbsp Seal of the president of the United States nbsp Coat of arms of Brazil nbsp Coat of arms of Singapore nbsp Seal of United States Air ForceSee also editAstral crown Celestial crown Crown of ImmortalityExternal links editThe Archetype Form Model References edit History of the European Union flag FBI Heraldic Circle of Stars New Testament Revelation 12 1 amp 5 The Revelation of St John Circle of stars Detailed analysis PDF www coleccionbbva com Retrieved December 12 2014 What do the 12 stars www eduqna com Archived from the original on December 13 2014 Retrieved December 12 2014 a b The European Flag The European Union Real politics at last The Economist October 28 2004 Retrieved August 14 2011 Carlo Curti Gialdino I Simboli dell Unione europea Bandiera Inno Motto Moneta Giornata Roma Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato S p A 2005 ISBN 88 240 2503 X pp 80 85 Gialdino is here cited after a translation of the Italian text published by the Centre Virtuel de la Connaissance sur l Europe cvce eu European Union Myths on the flag Flags of the World 2002 1995 retrieved August 4 2007 While Count Coudenhove Kalergi in a personal statement maintained that three leading Catholics within the Council had subconsciously chosen the twelve stars on the model of Apocalypse 12 1 Paul M G Levy Press Officer of the Council from 1949 to 1966 explained in 1989 that there was no religious intention whatsoever associated with the choice of the circle of twelve stars Peter Diem 11 June 2002 Jeffrey Armstrong A Western Master of Eastern Wisdom Archived 2008 06 08 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Circle of stars amp oldid 1197553207, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
