Menorah

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Menorah incised in marble
It was found in the Ancient market of Athens and its dated 500AD

 

Yarmulke and Menorah from the Harry S Truman collection

The menorah, is a seven branched candelabrum lit by olive oil in the Tabernacle and the Temple in Jerusalem. The menorah is one of the oldest symbols of the Jewish people.
It is said to symbolize the burning bush

 

Origin

The Torah states that God revealed the design for the menorah to Moses, a plant that grows in Israel called the moriah typically has seven branches and resembles a menorah, leading to the theory that it provided the inspiration for its design Maimonides stated that the menorah in the Temple had straight branches, not rounded as is often depicted.

A second theory to the origin of the design of the menorah is based on what is known about ancient Hebrew cosmology, according to this theory, the seven branches represent the seven heavenly bodies.

Ancient use

A coin issued by Mattathias Antigonus, c. 40 BCE
A coin issued by Mattathias Antigonus, c. 40 BCE

According to the Bible, a menorah was used in the Tabernacle the portable sanctuary used by the Jews.
It was one of the three chief furnishings of the Temple.The Menorah is also a symbol closely associated with the Jewish holiday cosist of consecrated olive oil left to fuel the eternal flame.

The Coat of Arms of Israel
The Coat of Arms of Israel shows 7 seven branches of the menorah,