Seven Stars, Seven Stones and One White Tree...

[Gwathagor]

I'm pretty sure that the seven stars are simply a heraldic device used by the Elendili. I can't think why seven stars would refer to nine ships...

[zxcvbn]

I find it strange that JRRT never bothered to explain the Seven Stars when the other two objects(Stones and White Tree) held such importance in the story. When I first read it, I assumed it referred to the Elendimir(Star of Elendil), or to the fact that Numenor resembled a seven-pointed star, but it seems that's not the case.

[Gwathagor]

Besides, Numenor resembles, if anything, a five-pointed star. (Did someone mention that already? I'm too lazy to read the entire thread.)

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

Actually, to theorize, I've always wondered if the seven stars of the heraldic device were meant to symbolize the Sickle of the Valar, which Varda set in the heavens as a warning to Melkor, thus indicating that the house of Elendil was still faithful to the Valar and opposed to Melkor and Sauron. It did have seven stars, after all.

[Gwathagor]

Hey, that's a fun idea. It's speculation, obviously, but it could work.

[Groin Redbeard]

Quenta Silmarillion 19, Of Beren and Lúthien
"And in answer he sang a song of challenge that he had made in praise of the Seven Stars, the Sickle of the Valar that Varda hung above the North as a sign for the fall of Morgoth."

I believe the seven stars is a constallation in the sky that simbled the fall of Morgoth.

[Rumil]

Probably barking up the wrong tree here, but I have a vague memory that the Seven Stars were derived from one of the elven 'coats of arms' (as sometimes shown in various copies of the Sil). Can anyone confirm? I'm Sil-less at the mo! No doubt the elven symbols were originally derived from Elbereth's stars.