The Star of David is usually called Magen David, or literally translated, the Shield of David. Originally, this six-pointed star was not a Jewish symbol and was not related to the biblical King David. It was a commonly found ornament used to decorate synagogues around the beginning of the Common Era. It can also be traced to earlier Arabic art and architecture and medieval churches.
The Star of David became popular around the beginning of the 19th century as decoration for religious objects such as seder plates and Chanukah candelabras . With the rise of zionism at the end of this century, the blue six-pointed star became a Jewish national symbol. During the Nazi period, it became mandatory to wear a yellow Star of David (called ster in the Netherlands) as a sign of discrimination.