Summary
1. The origin of the hexagram is unknown but it is reasonable to assume that people began using it in the dawn of history if by means of imitation of natural shapes like stars, plants or snowflakes, or as an outcome of playing with a pair of compasses.
2. The hexagram was apparently familiar in the Sumerian culture, and possibly described a star in a sky.
3. The hexagram appears in the Indian culture but it is unclear from when and if it influenced other cultures or was influenced by them.
4. The “strongest” archeological finding is from the Minoan culture, but it is unclear how it wandered from Crete to other cultures.
5. In the Jewish ancient culture there are few archeological findings of hexagrams but most certainly they were not called in the name star of David in the period in which they were created, and it is not clear if they had any Jewish significance.
6. There is a “fashion” of connecting archeological findings in various countries to the Ten Lost Tribes that had been expelled from Israel after the desolation of the first Temple. This “fashion” is likely to help find proof or refutation of the existence of the Magen David in the period of the Israeli kingship, but up till now there hasn’t been made a comprehensive study on this specific subject.
7. In the last hundreds of years there is in the Jewish culture an attempt to explain and interpret the Magen David as belonging to ancient times.
8. Interestingly the Magen David appears in the Persian ancient religion approximately in the period of king David and it raises the possibility of mutual influence.
9. Interestingly the Magen David appears as an emblem in the ancient wine industry in Israel and later as an emblem in the international alcohol industry in continuum until our days.
10. There are tens of findings of hexagrams from the period of the Roman Empire but it is unclear what was their name and what significance was attributed to them.
11. There are thousands of finding of Muslim hexagrams that are attributed to king Solomon which testify on their Jewish source from the period of the kingship.
12. There are many Christian hexagram findings from the start of Christianity but is is unclear how they were called in the time they were created, and it is unclear what significance had been attributed to them.
13. There is a chain of messianic leaders to whom the origin of the Magen David is attributed in relation to Balaam’s Prophecy about the star of Jacob.
14. The Magen David appeared as Jewish symbol in the middle ages but as symbol of the Jewish nation only in the last generations.
15. Multiple explanations about the origin of the Magen David testify on the great interest there is in the Jewish public especially and in the world in general in solving this mystery.