Historical Context
Editorially reviewedEarly Dynastic glyptic uses compact field-stars among other celestial fillers; eight points are the diagnostic of this type. Disc enclosure and a specific Ištar/Venus reading belong to the Old Babylonian horizon inside the collection fence (to c. 1800 BCE). The reed-bundle ring-post (MUŠ³) remains a separate Late Uruk–Jemdet Nasr standard for Inanna’s precinct and is not a substitute name for this star.
Provenance: Field-device on Early Dynastic through Old Babylonian cylinder seals of southern Mesopotamia. Disc-enclosed eight-pointed stars grouped with crescent and solar disc belong to the Old Babylonian horizon. Six-point stars and dingir wedges are other types.
Research status: reviewed · reviewed 02/09/2026
Sources
3 referencesGods, Demons and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia
Jeremy Black and Anthony Green, Gods, Demons and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia: An Illustrated Dictionary (British Museum Press, 1992), s.v. “star,” pp. 169–170. (British Museum Press)
Supports: Eight-pointed star as a celestial mark that originally associates with the heavens; disc-enclosed Ištar/Venus reading from the Old Babylonian period; six-pointed stars occur with unknown meaning and are not this type.
First Impressions: Cylinder Seals in the Ancient Near East
Dominique Collon, First Impressions: Cylinder Seals in the Ancient Near East (British Museum Press, 1987; 2nd ed. 2005), on astral filling motifs and the later disc-star of Ištar. (British Museum Press)
Supports: Glyptic evidence for eight-pointed field-stars on seals, distinct from floral rosettes and from first-millennium kudurru or branding marks.
Stratified Cylinder Seals from the Diyala Region
Henri Frankfort, Stratified Cylinder Seals from the Diyala Region, Oriental Institute Publications 72 (University of Chicago Press, 1955). (Oriental Institute, University of Chicago)
Supports: Diyala glyptic field-stars and geometric/plant fillers, used to keep the eight-pointed star distinct from the even-petalled rosette.
How to cite this page
Eight-Pointed Star — Documented Sumerian/Akkadian Motif, Early Dynastic–Old Babylonian. Sanctum Hex Vault. Reviewed 02/09/2026. https://vault.sanctumhex.com/symbols/historically-documented-sumerian-and-early-akkadian-visual-motif-types-from-southern-mesopotamia-c-3500-1800-bce-drawn-from-cylinder-seals-votive-plaques-temple-fittings-and-royal-standards-motif-types-only-exclude-modern-anunnaki-claims-invented-occult-seals-and-later-neo-assyrian-palace-types-presented-as-sumerian-eight-pointed-star-documented-sumerian-akkadian-motif-early-dynastic-old-babylonian
https://vault.sanctumhex.com/symbols/historically-documented-sumerian-and-early-akkadian-visual-motif-types-from-southern-mesopotamia-c-3500-1800-bce-drawn-from-cylinder-seals-votive-plaques-temple-fittings-and-royal-standards-motif-types-only-exclude-modern-anunnaki-claims-invented-occult-seals-and-later-neo-assyrian-palace-types-presented-as-sumerian-eight-pointed-star-documented-sumerian-akkadian-motif-early-dynastic-old-babylonianCelestial
Eight-Pointed Star — Documented Sumerian/Akkadian Motif, Early Dynastic–Old Babylonian
An eight-pointed field-star used as a celestial mark on Early Dynastic through Old Babylonian seals, later often enclosed in a disc.
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