Crescent and star Facts for Kids

A typical presentation of the star and crescent

The flag of Libya featuring a white crescent and star

The Islamic Crescent is a symbol consisting of a crescent with a star at the concave side. In its modern form, the star is usually shown with five points (though in earlier centuries a higher number of points was often used). The two signs together, or the crescent only, was long a symbol of Byzantium. Now it is often a symbol of Islam. It is seen on a number of different country flags such as Turkey and Pakistan respectively.

Early Byzantine star and crescent

Flag of Ottoman Empire was the first flag featuring a crescent with a star. Other states formerly part of the Ottoman Empire also used the symbol, so the symbol emerged into popular use.

Images for kids

Sealing depicting the Neo Sumerian King, Ibbi-Sin seated with a star or Dingir and crescent adjacent to him
Depiction of the emblems of Ishtar (Venus), Sin (Moon), and Shamash (Sun) on a boundary stone of Meli-Shipak II (12th century BC)
Venus, Sun and Moon on the Stele of Nabonidus (r. 556–539 BC) found at Harran (Şanlıurfa Museum)
A coin of Sassanid king Kavadh I (r. 488–531). Kavadh was the first Sassanid ruler to introduce star-and-crescent motifs as decorations on the margin of the obverse side of his coins. Note the continued use of the star and the crescent appearing on either side of the king's head.
Star and crescent on a coin of Uranopolis, Macedon, ca. 300 BC (see also Argead star).
A star and crescent symbol with the star shown in a sixteen-rayed "sunburst" design (3rd century BC).
Coin of Mithradates VI Eupator. The obverse side has the inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΜΙΘΡΑΔΑΤΟΥ ΕΥΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ with a stag feeding, with the star and crescent and monogram of Pergamum placed near the stag's head, all in an ivy-wreath.
Roman coin (1st century AD) with a bust of Artemis on the obverse and an eight-rayed star within a crescent on the reverse side.
The Moon-goddess Selene or Luna accompanied by the Dioscuri, or Phosphoros (the Morning Star) and Hesperos (the Evening Star). Marble altar, Roman artwork, 2nd century AD. From Italy.
The goddess Selene, illustration from Meyers Lexikon, 1888.
Coin of Roman Emperor Hadrian (r. 117–138). The reverse shows an eight-rayed star within a crescent.
Roman period limestone pediment from Perge, Turkey (Antalya Museum) showing Diana-Artemis with a crescent and a radiant crown.
A star and a crescent appearing (separately) on the obverse side of a coin of Orodes II of Parthia (r. 57–37 BC).
Coin of Vardanes I of Parthia (r. c. AD 40–45)
Depiction of a star and crescent flag on the Saracen side in the Battle of Yarmouk (manuscript illustration of the History of the Tatars, Catalan workshop, early 14th century).
A miniature painting from a Padshahnama manuscript (c. 1640), depicting Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as bearing a shield with a star and crescent decoration.
A painting from a Padshahnama manuscript (1633) depicts the scene of Aurangzeb facing the maddened war elephant Sudhakar. Sowar's shield is decorated with a star and crescent.
Ottoman sipahis in battle, holding the crescent banner (by Józef Brandt)
Flag of the Rif Republic
Coat of arms of Algueirão-Mem Martins parish, Portugal
Coat of arms of Aljezur parish, Portugal
Coat of arms of Casal de Cambra parish, Portugal
Coat of arms of Celorico da Beira municipality, Portugal
Coat of arms of Nisa municipality, Portugal
Coat of arms of Nossa Senhora das Misericórdias parish, Portugal
Coat of arms of Oliveira do Bairro municipality, Portugal
Coat of arms of Penacova municipality, Portugal
Coat of arms of São Brás de Alportel parish, Portugal
Coat of arms of Sintra municipality, Portugal
Coat of arms of Sobreda parish, Portugal
Coat of arms of Vouzela municipality, Portugal
Turkish Air Force aviator badge
Flag of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity
Logo of Shriners International

Crescent and star facts for kids

Images for kids

See also