Christian cross: Encyclopedia II - Christian cross - Forms of the Cross

Christian cross - Forms of the Cross

The cross is often shown in different shapes and sizes, in many different styles. It may be used in personal jewelry, or used on top of church buildings. It is shown both empty, and with the body of Christ (corpus) nailed to it, in which case it is typically called a crucifix. Roman Catholic depictions of the cross are often crucifixes, in order to emphasize Christ's sacrifice; but many Protestant traditions depict the cross without the corpus, in order to emphasize the resurrection.

Crosses are a prominent feature of Christian cemeteries, either carved on gravestones or as sculpted stelae. Because of this death meaning, planting small crosses is sometimes used in countries of Christian culture to mark the site of fatal traffic accidents, or to protest alleged deaths.

Crosses have been erected or carved on pagan sites of worship like mountain tops or menhirs to counter their influences. In Catholic countries, crosses are often erected on the peaks of prominent mountains, such as the Zugspitze or Mount Royal, so as to be visible over the entire surrounding area.

Perhaps the best-known form of the Christian cross is that depicted here, called the Latin cross, an equal-armed cross with a longer foot. It may be so called because it is the type of cross used in the Latin (Roman Catholic) church, as opposed to the Eastern Orthodox cross.

Other forms of the Christian cross include:

• Altar cross. Cross on a flat base to rest upon the altar. Earliest known example is a picture in a manuscript from the 9th century; by the 10th century they were commonly used, but the earliest extant altar cross is from the 12th century located at Great Lavra on Mt. Athos.
• Andrew cross. Shaped like the letter X, the form of cross Saint Andrew was martyred on. A national symbol of Scotland. Also known as St. Andrew's Cross.
• Ankh. Shaped like the letter T surmounted by an oval or circle. It is the Egyptian symbol for "life", it was adopted from the 2500 year-old pagan cross symbol by the Copts (Egyptian Christians), also called a crux ansata.
• Anthony's cross. Shaped like the letter T. Also called the Saint Anthony's cross or Tau cross. This is the actual historical form used by Romans for crucifixion, not the Latin cross. Also known as a crux commissa.
• Archiepiscopal cross. Special cross carried by an archbishop.
• Basque cross. The lauburu.
• Calvary cross. A Gothic style, the cross is mounted on a base shaped to resemble Mt. Golgatha (where Christ was crucified), with the Virgin Mary and Saint John on either the base or crossarms.
• Celtic Cross. Essentially a Latin cross, with a circle enclosing the intersection of the upright and crossbar, as in the standing High crosses;
• Consecration cross. One of 12 crosses painted on the walls of a church to mark where it had been anointed during its consecration.
• "Cross of name". See entry for "name cross".
• Crux fourchette. A cross with flared or forked ends (see illustration at Crosses in Heraldry).
• Crux gemmata. A cross inlaid with gems. Denotes a glorification of the cross, this form was inspired by the cult of the cross that arose after Saint Helena's discovery of the true cross in Jerusalem in 327.
• Crux hasta. A cross with a long descending arm; a cross-staff.
• Crux pattée. A Greek cross with flared ends.
• Double cross. A cross with two crossbars. The upper one is shorter, representing the plaque nailed to Christ's cross, which said "Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews". Also known as a crux gemina. Also called the Cross of Lorraine.
• Gammadion. A hooked cross or swastika, also known as a crux gammata.
• Globus cruciger. Globe cross. An orb surmounted by a cross; used in royal regalia.
• Greek cross. With arms of equal length. One of the most common Christian forms, in common use by the 4th century.
• Gnostic cross. Cross used by the early Gnostic sects.
• Latin cross. With a longer descending arm. Along with the Greek cross, it is the most common form, it represents the cross of Christ's crucifixion.
• Living cross. One of two possibilities: Either a natural cross made of living vines and brances. Or, a man-made cross with vines or plants planted at its base. In the all-natural version, it refers to the legend that Christ's cross was made from the Tree of Life. In the man-made cross with plants planted at the base, it contrasts the "new" Tree of Life (the cross) with the Old Testament Tree of Life. In both cases it shows Christ's death (the cross) as a redemption for original sin (Tree of Life).
• Lorraine cross. See entry for "Double cross".
• Maltese cross. A Greek cross with arms that taper into the center. The outer ends may be forked.
• Occitan cross
• Patriarchal cross. Like the Double cross, but with a third additional crossbar, each one shorter than the one below. A triple cross. Also called Eastern Orthodox cross or Papal cross.
• Pectoral cross. A large cross worn around the neck by some clergy.
• Peter cross. An upside down cross. So-called because Peter was crucified upside down. Also called Cross of St. Peter. Also a symbol of Satanism;
• Saltire. Associated with St Andrew, patron of Scotland.
• Stepped cross. A cross resting on a base with several steps, in imitation of a monument built by Constantine in Constantinople.
• Suppedaneum cross. A Russian and Byzantium form with an additional short crossbar, either horizontal or slanted near the base to represent Christ's footrest (suppedaneum).
• Tau cross. See entry for Anthony's cross.

In heraldry, while the overwhelming majority of forms of crosses are symbolic of Christianity, it should be noted that a very few, such as the cross moline, are not. See Crosses in Heraldry.

See also: Christian symbolism, Sign of the Cross

Compare the crossed circle of the Norse god Odin. 'Cross' itself is a word taken from Old Norse, which supplanted the former word 'rood' in Old English. See Roodmas, Rood screen, Rood loft.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Forms of the Cross", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki