Parts of the cross:
- The vertical (upright) member is called the stipes (pronounced sty' peez).
- The horizontal member to which the arms were nailed or tied is called the patibulum (pronounced puh tib' u lum).
- A crude seat was attached to the patibulum. It was referred to as the sedicula (pronounced suh dic' u luh).
- A foot rest, called the suppedaneum (pronounced sup ped un...
What is another name for a cross of lines?
For other uses, see Cross (disambiguation). A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two intersecting lines or bars, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of the Latin letter X, is also termed a saltire in heraldic terminology.
What are the different types of cross?
Crux quadrata (Greek cross). Crux immissa (Latin cross). Crux commissa (St. Anthony's cross). Crux decussata (St. Andrew's cross).
What is the shape of a cross?
A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two intersecting lines or bars, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of the Latin letter X, is termed a saltire in heraldic terminology. The cross in its various shapes and forms was a symbol of various beliefs.
What is the image on the cross called?
The cross with an image of Jesus' body on it is called a crucifix. Also, the Eastern Catholics often have Byzantine crosses. They are a little more detailed and have more parts that crucifixes and crosses. What are angle that cross called? Angles that cross are called perpendicular angles.
What are the two parts of a cross?
A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two intersecting lines or bars, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally.
What are the stages of the cross called?
The series of stations is as follows: (1) Jesus is condemned to death, (2) he is made to bear his cross, (3) he falls the first time, (4) he meets his mother, (5) Simon of Cyrene is made to bear the cross, (6) Veronica wipes Jesus' face, (7) he falls the second time, (8) the women of Jerusalem weep over Jesus, (9) he ...
What is the vertical part of the cross called?
The instrument of Jesus' crucifixion (known in Latin as crux, in Greek as stauros) is generally taken to have been composed of an upright wooden beam to which was added a transom, thus forming a "cruciform" or T-shaped structure.
What is the difference between a cross and a crucifix?
A cross is just a T-shaped symbol whereas a crucifix is a cross with the sacred body of Jesus depicted over it. Cross is displayed over buildings of the Christians such as churches, cathedrals, and schools, whereas crucifix is placed over the altar and Christians pay their prayers in front of the crucifix.
What are the Stations of the Cross and what do they mean?
Definition of stations of the cross 1 : a series of usually 14 images or pictures especially in a church that represent the stages of Christ's passion and death. 2 : a devotion involving commemorative meditation before the stations of the cross.
How many stages is the Cross?
fourteenScriptural form Out of the fourteen traditional Stations of the Cross, only eight have a clear scriptural foundation. Station 4 appears out of order from scripture; Jesus's mother is present at the crucifixion but is only mentioned after Jesus is nailed to the cross and before he dies (between stations 11 and 12).
What does the horizontal part of the cross mean?
Since a cross lies horizontal when someone is carrying it on their shoulders, like Christ carrying the cross, some believe it can symbolize a person's choice to accept the Lord and His teachings. The symbolism behind this meaning is that devout Christians must take up their own cross and follow the Lord.
What is the cross with a circle on top?
The ankh or key of life is an ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic symbol used in Egyptian art and writing to represent the word for "life" and, by extension, as a symbol of life itself.
What is the meaning of the horizontal bar of Jesus cross?
The cross represents the Tree of Life and the Tree of Nourishment; it is also a symbol of universal, archetypal man, capable of infinite and harmonious expansion on both the horizontal and vertical planes; the vertical line is the celestial, spiritual and intellectual, positive, active and male, while the horizontal is ...
Is it OK for a Catholic to wear a cross?
Britain's most senior Catholic cleric has called on Christians to wear a cross every day as "a symbol of their beliefs" and to combat the marginalisation of religion in modern society.
Why a crucifix and not a cross?
A crucifix (from Latin cruci fixus meaning "(one) fixed to a cross") is an image of Jesus on the cross, as distinct from a bare cross. The representation of Jesus himself on the cross is referred to in English as the corpus (Latin for "body").
Why do some crosses have two bars?
The main crossbar represents secular power while the second bar represents the ecclesiastical power of Byzantine emperors. The first bar represents the death of Jesus while the second cross bar represents his resurrection and victory.
What is a cross?
Cross. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Jump to navigation Jump to search. Geometrical figure. For information on the Christian symbol, see Christian cross. For other uses, see Cross (disambiguation). A Greek cross (all arms of equal length) above a saltire, a cross whose limbs are slanted. A cross is a geometrical figure consisting ...
What is a cross in Greek?
A Greek cross (all arms of equal length) above a saltire, a cross whose limbs are slanted. A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two intersecting lines or bars, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of the Latin letter X, ...
What is crux in etymology?
The field of etymology is of no help in any effort to trace a supposed original meaning of crux. A crux can be of various shapes: from a single beam used for impaling or suspending ( crux simplex) to the various composite kinds of cross ( crux compacta) made from more beams than one.
Where did the word "cross" come from?
The English verb to cross arises from the noun c. 1200, first in the sense "to make the sign of the cross"; the generic meaning "to intersect" develops in the 15th century. The Latin word was, however, influenced by popular etymology by a native Germanic word reconstructed as * krukjo (English crook, Old English crycce, Old Norse krokr, Old High German krucka ). This word, by conflation with Latin crux, gave rise to Old French crocier (modern French crosse ), the term for a shepherd's crook, adopted in English as crosier .
What is the instrument of Jesus' crucifixion?
Further information: Instrument of Jesus' crucifixion, Early Christian symbols, Christogram, Christian cross variants, and Cross necklace. Early use of a globus cruciger on a solidus minted by Leontios (r. 695–698); on the obverse, a stepped cross in the shape of an Iota Eta monogram.
What does the cross symbol mean in the alphabet?
In the Phoenician alphabet and derived scripts, the cross symbol represented the phoneme /t/, i.e. the letter taw, which is the historical predecessor of Latin T. The letter name taw means "mark", presumably continuing the Egyptian hieroglyph "two crossed sticks" ( Gardiner Z9 ).
What is the meaning of the cross in the Bronze Age?
In the European Bronze Age the cross symbol appeared to carry a religious meaning, perhaps as a symbol of consecration, especially pertaining to burial.
What does the inscription on the cross mean?
It portrays a naked bearded man whose arms are tied at the wrists by short strips to the transom of a T-shaped cross. An inscription in Greek on the obverse contains an invocation of the redeeming crucified Christ. On the reverse a later inscription by a different hand combines magical formulae with Christian terms.
Where is the altar cross?
In many Christian traditions, such as the Methodist Churches, the altar cross sits atop or is suspended above the altar table and is a focal point of the chancel. In many Baptist churches, a large cross hangs above the baptistry.
What is the feast of the cross?
One of the twelve Great Feasts in Orthodox Catholic is the Exaltation of the Cross on September 14, which commemorates the consecration of the basilica on the site where the original cross of Jesus was reportedly discovered in 326 by Helena of Constantinople, mother of Constantine the Great.
What branch of Christianity do Catholics belong to?
Catholics, Orthodox Catholic, Oriental Orthodox, members of the major branches of Christianity with other adherents as Lutheranism and Anglicans, and others often make the Sign of the Cross upon themselves. This was already a common Christian practice in the time of Tertullian.
What is the icon of Christ Pantocrator?
The Sinai icon of Christ Pantocrator (6th century), showing Christ with a cruciform halo and holding a book adorned with a crux gemmata. There are few extant examples of the cross in 2nd century Christian iconography.
What is the symbol of Christianity?
Symbol of Christianity. A typical Greek Cross. A typical Latin cross. The Christian cross, seen as a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus, is the best-known symbol of Christianity.
Where is the highest cross in the world?
Cross in Valle de los Caídos near Madrid, the highest cross in the world ( Juan de Ávalos 1959) The Millennium Cross in Skopje, North Macedonia, one of the biggest crosses in the world (2000) The World Trade Center Cross rises from the World Trade Center wreckage. Grave cross with nails - Evros / Greece.
What was the cross in the Roman world?
The Cross in the Roman World. The word “cross” was offensive to Romans. One Roman insulted another by using it on a graffito discovered in the Stabian baths of Pompeii: “May you be nailed to the cross!”. Classical texts similarly use the term “cross” in curses.
Where were the feet nailed on the cross?
Material evidence suggests that a person’s feet were nailed separately on each side of the vertical beam of the cross. A crucifixion image discovered in Puteoli, Italy, for instance, shows a man, who had been severely flogged, with outstretched arms and feet nailed separately to the vertical beam.
Why is the cross not used as a symbol of Christianity?
But, interestingly, most scholars believe that early Christians did not use the cross as an image of their religion because crucifixion evoked the shameful death of a slave or criminal. 1.
Why did people die on the cross?
While medical theories traditionally assert that people died on the cross from asphyxia (respiratory failure), recent studies contend that the victims most likely died because of a variety of physiological factors. 8 Regardless of the actual cause of death, crucifixion was a slow and excruciatingly painful death.
What does the Bible say about Jesus hanging on the cross?
Each of the Synoptic Gospels recounts that at the moment of Jesus’s deepest agony as he hung on the cross, the soldiers and people in the crowd mocked him, saying, “Save yourself, and come down from the cross!” (Mark 15:30; Matthew 27:40–44; Luke 23:37–39).
What does "go to an evil cross" mean?
The Roman writer Plautus, for instance, uses the phrase “go to an evil cross” as slang for “go to hell” (e.g., Pseudolus 331). 4 In fact, even the Latin word for cross ( crux) sounded harsh to the ears, according to St. Augustine ( De Dialectica 10.10).
Why does Paul use the word "cross" in his letters?
Despite its negative connotation to Jews, Greeks, and Romans, Paul repeatedly uses the word “cross” in his letters when responding to the conflicts created by his opponents (e.g., Galatians 2:18–20). Interestingly, Paul may have deliberately focused on the modality of Jesus’s death on the cross for at least two reasons.
What are the different types of crosses?
Lets’ discover the different types of crosses, their history and their symbolical meaning. Contents [ hide] 1 Latin Cross. 2 Greek cross. 3 Tau cross, also known as Saint Anthony the Abbot cross or Crux Commissa. 4 Tree of Life Cross. 5 Eight pointed Cross.
What is the cross in Byzantine art?
It is typical of the Byzantine art, alternating with the Latin cross as base diagrams for churches. Its four equal beams and the fact that it can be contained in a square, make it the idealized cross, which represents the Divine Nature of Christ.
What religions use crosses?
Christianism was not the first religion to use crosses as objects of devotion. Since the Stone Age, and until the pre-Christian era, there were many pictures shaped as crosses. The so-called Celtic cross was the symbol of the god Odin for the Northmen. It represented a cross enclosed in a circle.
What is the cross of Saint Aemilian?
Also known as the Visigoth cross, it is a cross with anchor-shaped beams, that is, with the tips curved towards the outside like anchors. This cross is connected to the figure of Saint Aemilian, a hermit who lived in Spain during the VI century.
Why is the Nile cross called the Cross of Life?
It looks like a key, and that is why it is also called Cross of Life, Nile cross or Ankh Cross, in memory of the ancient Egyptian symbol for eternal life. The Coptic cross is nothing but an evolution of the ancient Egyptian ankh, which decorated Pharaohs tombs and was often represented in the hands of the gods.
Why are the tips of the cross facing the outside?
The twelve tips of its beams represent the twelve apostles. The fact that the tips are facing towards the outside or the inside indicates the weakness of the Church, made of men, saints and sinners.
What is the Maltese cross?
The eight pointed cross, also known as the Maltese Cross, or saint John’s cross, was the symbol of the maritime Republic of Amalfi at least since the XI century. It was also the symbol of the Knights Hospitaller of Jerusalem, upon whose clothes it stood out in white, recalling the Pureness of the Beatitudes.
What does the cross symbolize?
It symbolized the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and symbolized the belief of Christian religions across the world. In particular, it showcases the passion of Christ and his death on the Cross. The defining feature of this Cross is its more extended arm at the bottom.
What is the meaning of a wooden cross?
Wooden Cross. A wooden cross bears the same meaning as a Latin cross but with a closer connection to the actual crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This is because the Cross that Jesus was crucified on was made out of wood. The Cross itself is no different from a typical Latin cross, with its material being the only difference.
What is the meaning of the cross of Saint Aemilian of Cogolla?
Cross of Saint Aemilian of Cogolla. The Cross of Saint Aemilian of Cogolla is a cross that symbolizes the saint that it was named after. Saint Aemilian was a saint that lived between the fifth and sixth centuries in La Rioja, Spain.
Why is St Andrew's cross slanted?
Saint Andrew’s cross is a slanted cross that symbolizes the crucifixion of Saint Andrew, the patron of Scotland . The Cross has become a national symbol as a result. It is slanted as many believe that Saint Andrew was martyred in this manner.
What does the upside down cross mean?
Upside Down Cross (St. Peter) The Upside Down Cross is a unique cross that also has heavy ties to Christianity. The Cross symbolizes the martyrdom of Peter the Apostle, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. Peter wished to be crucified upside-down, as he found himself unworthy of being crucified in the same manner as Jesus.
What is the 8 point cross?
The Eight Pointed Cross is a unique cross that is essentially a cross made up of four distinct V shapes. These shapes point inward, resulting in the eight points of the Eight Pointed Cross. The Cross is also known as the Maltese Cross, a cross that is most commonly associated with the Knights Hospitaller.
What does the tree of life cross represent?
Tree of Life Cross. The Tree of Life cross is a simplified version of the Tree of Life, a symbol that represents many things, including ancestry, family, and of course, life. It essentially explains that everything in this world is connected, one way or another. It also represents growth, whether that be physical, mental, or spiritual.
What part of the crossbow is used for holding the crossbow?
STOCK. The base of the crossbow is nearly helpful for holding the crossbow in good manners. The trigger, barrel, and sight bridge are the few other parts that are attached together in different positions with it. This part remains quite opposite to the shoulder of the hunter while shooting the target.
What are the two types of crossbows?
Crossbow is categorized into two types named as; compound crossbow and recurve crossbow. Both are easily available in the market and almost are common in their characteristics depending on your personal preferences and experiences.
What is a latch on a crossbow?
The latch is a simple mechanism of holding the string while drawing or cocking the crossbow until it is released by pressing the trigger. In this sense, your crossbow string should be light and more durable for getting your demanding shots.
How does a crossbow work?
The crossbow works properly by using the limbs on each side of it which is used to store the kinetic energy in them just after pulling the string. The energy transferring mechanism is very simple as when the hunter draws the string back, then wheels that are mounted with the limbs move and pull the cable.
What is a crossbow scope?
A scope is a useful tool from all of the crossbow accessories that magnifies the actual targets up to different ranges. In the market, there are two types of scope; multi-dot scope and red-dot scope, both have various magnificent powers.
What is stirrup on a crossbow?
The Stirrup is an essential part of the crossbow which is normal ly made by using the sturdy layers of metal, connected to the stock tip. Generally, it is used during cocking the crossbow for preventing the bow from slipping aspects.
Where are bolts located on a crossbow?
FLETCHING. Whether you are using the compound crossbow or a recurve crossbow, bolts will have the wings or vanes located near the nock for stabilizing the position of a bolt in the air. Due to the wings, it rotates along its own axis and provides the hunters fully reliable shots towards the target.
Overview
Other things known as "cross"
• Crux, or the Southern Cross, is a cross-shaped constellation in the Southern Hemisphere. It appears on the national flags of Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea and Samoa.
• Notable free-standing Christian crosses (or Summit crosses): The tallest cross, at 152.4 metres high, is part of Francisco Franco's monumental "Valley of the Fallen", the Monumento Nacional de Santa …
Name
The word cross is recorded in 11th-century Old English as cros, exclusively for the instrument of Christ's crucifixion, replacing the native Old English word rood. The word's history is complicated; it appears to have entered English from Old Irish, possibly via Old Norse, ultimately from the Latin crux (or its accusative crucem and its genitive crucis), "stake, cross". The English verb to cross arises from the noun c. 1200, first in the sense "to make the sign of the cross"; the generic meani…
History
Due to the simplicity of the design (two intersecting lines), cross-shaped incisions make their appearance from deep prehistory; as petroglyphs in European cult caves, dating back to the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic, and throughout prehistory to the Iron Age. Also of prehistoric age are numerous variants of the simple cross mark, including the crux gammata with curving or a…
Cross-like marks and graphemes
The cross mark is used to mark a position, or as a check mark, but also to mark deletion. Derived from Greek Chi are the Latin letter X, Cyrillic Kha and possibly runic Gyfu.
Egyptian hieroglyphs involving cross shapes include ankh "life", ndj "protect" and nfr "good; pleasant, beautiful".
Sumerian cuneiform had a simple cross-shaped character, consisting of a horizontal and a vertic…
Physical gestures
Cross shapes are made by a variety of physical gestures. Crossing the fingers of one hand is a common invocation of the symbol. The sign of the cross associated with Christian genuflection is made with one hand: in Eastern Orthodox tradition the sequence is head-heart-right shoulder-left shoulder, while in Oriental Orthodox, Catholic and Anglican tradition the sequence is head-heart-left-right.
External links
• Seiyaku.com, all Crosses - probably the largest collection on the Internet
• Variations of Crosses - Images and Meanings
• Cross & Crucifix - Glossary: Forms and Topics
• Nasrani.net, Indian Cross
Overview
The Christian cross, seen as a representation of the crucifixion of Jesus on a large wooden cross, is a renowned symbol of Christianity. It is related to the crucifix (a cross that includes a corpus, usually a three-dimensional representation of Jesus' body) and to the more general family of cross symbols, the term cross itself being detached from the original specifically Christian meaning in modern English (as in many other western languages).
Pre-Christian symbolism
A version of the cross symbol was used long before the Christian era in the form of the ancient Egyptian ankh.
Instrument of Jesus' execution
John Pearson, Bishop of Chester (c. 1660) wrote in his commentary on the Apostles' Creed that the Greek word stauros originally signified "a straight standing Stake, Pale, or Palisador", but that, "when other transverse or prominent parts were added in a perfect Cross, it retained still the Original Name", and he declared: "The Form then of the Cross on which our Saviour suffered was not a simple, but a compounded, Figure, according to the Custom of the Romans, by whose Proc…
Early Christian usage
There are few extant examples of the cross in 2nd century Christian iconography. It has been argued that Christians were reluctant to use it as it depicts a purposely painful and gruesome method of public execution. A symbol similar to the cross, the staurogram, was used to abbreviate the Greek word for cross in very early New Testament manuscripts such as P66, P45 and P75, almost like a n…
In contemporary Christianity
In Christianity, communicants of the Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox Churches are expected to wear a cross necklace at all times; these are ordinarily given to believers at their baptism.
Many Christians, such as those in the tradition of the Church of the East, continue the practice of hanging a Christian cross in their homes, often on the east wall. Crosses or crucifixes are often t…
Rejection among various religious groups
Although Christians accepted that the cross was the gallows on which Jesus died, they had already begun in the 2nd century to use it as a Christian symbol. During the first three centuries of the Christian era the cross was "a symbol of minor importance" when compared to the prominence given to it later, but by the second century it was closely associated with Christians, to the point where C…
See also
• Atrial cross
• Chi Rho
• Christian cross variants
• Cross burning
• Cross of All Nations
External links
• Encyclopaedia Britannica article Cross: religious symbol, with a clearer systematic presentation and chronology of Christian and pre-Christian use
• The Christian Cross of Jesus Christ, Symbols of Christianity, and representations of it as objects of devotion
• MSN Encarta( 2009-10-31), "Cross"