First, I apologize if this is asked in the wrong place, but I'm finding it hard placing this question, which is this:

The symbol above is called a "star", but why?

I have read that the symbol predates the telescope, but stars do not look five-pointed to the naked eye. Possibly it was only called a star very recently, but perhaps the origins are much older and more mythological. If so, then maybe somebody here can clarify the issue for me, or at least point me in the right direction?