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A crescent shape (/ ˈ k r ɛ s ən t /, UK also / ˈ k r ɛ z ən t /) [1] is a symbol or emblem used to represent the lunar phase (as it appears in the northern hemisphere) in the first quarter (the "sickle moon"), or by extension a symbol representing the Moon itself.
The moon-goddess Selene is commonly depicted with a crescent moon, often accompanied by two stars (the stars represent Phosphorus, the morning star, and Hesperus, the evening star); sometimes, instead of a crescent, a lunar disc is used.
The crescent is usually associated with Islam and regarded as its symbol. The crescent and star had been used in the coinage of the Sassanid Persian Empire. The Umayyad Caliphate, after the Rashidun Caliphate's conquest of the region, continue to use similar coins with some modification but leaving the star and crescent intact.
The use of astronomical symbols for the Sun and Moon dates to antiquity. The forms of the symbols that appear in the original papyrus texts of Greek horoscopes are a circle with one ray for the Sun and a crescent for the Moon. [3] The modern Sun symbol, a circle with a dot (☉), first appeared in Europe in the Renaissance. [3]
Officials saw the crescent moon Sunday night in Saudi Arabia, home to the holiest sites in Islam, marking the start of the holy fasting month of Ramadan for many of the world's 1.8 billion Muslims.
Planetary symbols are used in astrology and traditionally in astronomy to represent a classical planet (which includes the Sun and the Moon) or one of the modern planets. The classical symbols were also used in alchemy for the seven metals known to the ancients, which were associated with the planets, and in calendars for the seven days of the week associated with the seven planets.
One symbol, ♇, is a monogram of the letters PL (which can be interpreted to stand for Pluto or for astronomer Percival Lowell), was announced with the name of the new planet by the discoverers on May 1, 1930. [19] Another symbol, which was popularized in Paul Clancy's astrological publications, is based on Pluto's bident: [citation needed].
Coinage of Kushan ruler Huvishka, with the Lunar deity Mah (Mao) on the reverse, 2nd century CE.The lunar crescent appears behind the shoulders. [7]Herodotus states that the moon was the tutelary divinity of the Iranian expatriates residing in Asia Minor. [8]