E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Cres’cent.
Tradition says that “Philip, the father of Alexander, meeting with great difficulties in the siege of Byzan’tium, set the workmen to undermine the walls, but a crescent moon discovered the design, which miscarried; consequently the Byzantines erected a statue to Diana, and the crescent became the symbol of the state.”
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Another legend is that Othman, the Sultan, saw in a vision a crescent moon, which kept increasing till its horns extended from east to west, and he adopted the crescent of his dream for his standard, adding the motto, “Donec rep’leat orbem.”
