Why is the interlocking-squares (gammadia) a symbol of the Melchizedek Priesthood?
Upvote:3
Why is the square a symbol of the Melchizedek Priesthood?
Short answer is because it's on the altar cloth with Melchizedek on the mosaic. I've been unable to find any ancient reference to the eight pointed star referred to or necessarily associated with Melchizedek.
Henry Pelham Holmes Bromwell, a mason, in his book Restorations of Masonic Geometry and Symbolry Being a Dissertation on the Lost Knowlege of the Lodges apparently identifies the eight pointed star the "Signet of Melchizedek" in 1905. 1
The LDS also commonly refer to it as the seal of Melchizedek because of Michael Lyon's caption, The white altar cloth is decorated with ... the so-called ‘seal of Melchizedek,’ two interlocked squares, to a picture in Hugh Nibley's book Temple and Cosmos (the picture and caption are not included in the online version, but is similar to the first in the OP question) in 1992.
What ancient documents detail this?
None that I can find, though there are several architectural/artworks that have this symbol as part of it, though not necessarily connected to Melchizedek.
- Christian Tile Mosaic in Khirbet, Israel
- Jewish Bible Leningrad Codex (dated 1008 CE)
- Coptic Altar Cloth (2nd to 4th century AD)
- Theodora’s Procession with Retinue, San Vitale basilica, Ravenna, Italy (see the garment sleeve, built 547)
In Islam, the symbol is called a Rub el Hizb, or quarter group. 2 The usage of this symbol by Muslims, however, is a moot point since their faith sprung up in the early 7th century AD, and they appear to have adapted this symbol from Byzantine art. CR Clifford mentions:
The combination of two squares gives us the Mohammedan eight-pointed star, and the five-pointed star is supposed to be a Christian symbol. Yet if we go back to the period of Christian enthusiasm in the Byzantine Empire we will find the Brahman and Mohammedan eight-pointed star in universal use. 3
In Hinduism, the eight-pointed star is called Star of Lakshmi.
If no ancient documents, then are there Jewish or early Christian graves that somehow convey that the square represents the Melchizedek Priesthood?
I have been unable to find graves that convey the squares or any connection the squares have to Melchizedek.
A few other articles on the seal of Melchizedek (most are from the LDS perspective):
- The Seal of Melchizedek? (lots of info)
- Seal of Melchizedek - Eight-Pointed Star (also lots of info)
- Ornament Symbols (refers to it as the eight pointed Armenian Star or Bethlehem Star)
- Symbols in Christian Art & Architecture
- Seal of Melchizedek
- The Seal of Melchizedek as a Christological Symbol
- The Seal of Melchizedek (not part 1)
- The Seal of Melchizedek – Part 2
- Gammadia on Early Jewish and Christian Garments
1 http://lds-studies.blogspot.com/2010/08/seal-of-melchizedek.html
2 http://symboldictionary.net/?p=3106 and http://ldsmag.com/the-seal-of-melchizedek-history-meanings-and-mysteries
3 http://lds-studies.blogspot.com/2011/05/seal-of-melchizedek-eight-pointed-star.html and https://books.google.com/books?id=4BroAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA12&lpg=PA12&dq=Mohammedan+eight-pointed+star+-lds&source=bl&ots=-iQByaLw0z&sig=ogg2EZjLnTOxg2UzWhdbqcF9-5I&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi4rdq0p8fSAhWISCYKHcmNBcsQ6AEIGjAA#v=onepage&q=Mohammedan%20eight-pointed%20star%20-lds&f=false
.jpg){kind=link}
More post
- 📝 Does the Bible espouse moral absolutism or moral relativism?
- 📝 Why does Jesus' Resurrection mean hope for an individual and in what context?
- 📝 How does the LDS Church reconcile their understanding of the "Godhead" which is three beings/three gods with the Bible stating there is only one God?
- 📝 New Age Movement
- 📝 What is the scriptural basis for clerical celibacy?
- 📝 Who were the main Protestant precursors?
- 📝 How was Jesus the Seed of David if Jesus is God who created Man (Adam), and David is the seed of Adam?
- 📝 In Genesis 2:17, is God telling a lie for a greater good?
- 📝 What is courting according to the Catholic interpretation of the Natural Law?
- 📝 Is the LDS's view of Trinity/Godhead considered monotheistic or polytheistic?
- 📝 According to Catholicism, who is the Wisdom being described in Proverbs 8:22–36?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis to claim that masturbation is a sin?
- 📝 Why do non believers hate being confronted with the truth?
- 📝 What is the stance of the LDS Church on gender?
- 📝 Why does John 1 say "the Word was with God" and not "scripture was with God"?
- 📝 How has war been justified within Christianity, with respect to the New Testament and preferably the Gospels?
- 📝 Does Christianity allow Christians to celebrate other holidays?
- 📝 Did Jesus believe that the human soul lived on after death?
- 📝 What are some of the recent doctrinal controversial matters in the Eastern Orthodox Church?
- 📝 God was born of Mary - really?
- 📝 What are the steps and permissions required to add more "patronages" to saints?
- 📝 Is John saying that Christ is God and eternal?
- 📝 How did Jesus reconcile his teachings with Judaism?
- 📝 According to Mormonism, how does a person get saved?
- 📝 The Holy Spirit and Revelation 14:1
- 📝 Who Said: "God Did Not Become Man in Order for Man to Become a Theologian''?
- 📝 How does Christianity work with all the biblical covenants?
- 📝 How would Biblical Inerrantists resolve perceived tensions between 2 Timothy 3:16 and Hebrews 7:18?
- 📝 What is the earliest recorded instance where Mary is called "Blessed Virgin?"
- 📝 Why did Jesus use bread to turn into His body?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 Why is the interlocking-squares (gammadia) a symbol of the Melchizedek Priesthood?
- 📝 Why does LDS teaching say that the Priesthood returned to earth if John never left?
- 📝 Why do adherents to the priesthood of all believers still have organized congregations?
- 📝 What priesthood did the line of Adam from Seth to Melchizedek and Noah hold in LDS/Mormon teaching?
- 📝 Why did the RLDS start giving the priesthood to women?
- 📝 Why is the Ichthys symbol almost always facing left?
- 📝 Why is the fish often used as a symbol of Christ?
- 📝 What reasons does the Bible give for why the tribe of Levi was chosen to have the priesthood and temple duties?
- 📝 Why did Martin Luther reject the idea of the priesthood (sacerdotalism)?
- 📝 The Bible seems to allow polygamy. Why doesn't the church?
- 📝 Why are Matthew, Mark, and Luke called the synoptic gospels?
- 📝 Why are there so many translations of the Bible?
- 📝 Why was Lot "let off the hook" for offering his daughters to be raped?
- 📝 Why did Jesus not want to be known as the Messiah?
- 📝 Why is the Book of Enoch not regarded as canonical?
- 📝 Has any prominent theologian ever explained why Jesus let a thief be in charge of the money?
- 📝 Why did the Pharisees need Judas to betray Jesus?
- 📝 Why are there different divisions of the Ten Commandments?
- 📝 Why didn't the Jews understand "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani"?
- 📝 Can somebody summarize the different "branches" of Christianity to me, and explain why they exist in the first place?
- 📝 Why did people live so long before the Flood?
- 📝 Why is Jesus named the Prince of Peace instead of the King of Peace?
- 📝 According to those holding that Lazarus was literally raised from the dead, why did Matthew, Mark, and Luke not mention it?
- 📝 Why do we use the order "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit"?
- 📝 Why did Jesus wear the crown of thorns?
- 📝 Why were Deuterocanonical books rejected in the Reformation?
- 📝 Why was God so upset with Moses for striking the rock the second time in the desert?
- 📝 Why does Jesus refer to himself as the "Son of Man"?
- 📝 How did the cross come to be a symbol for Christianity?
- 📝 Why doesn't the Catholic Bible include all books from Septuagint?