✣ Cross Symbolism ✣ A cross is a geometrical figure and one of the most ancient human symbols, and has been used by many religions, most notably Christianity. It may be seen as a division of the world into four elements or cardinal points, or alternately as the union of the concepts of divinity (the vertical line) and the world (the horizontal line). Crosses also symbolize spirituality and healing. The four points of a cross represent self, nature, wisdom, and higher power or being. Crosses suggest transition, balance, faith, unity, temperance, hope, and life. They represent relationships and a need for connection. History shows that the cross was used centuries before Christ. For example, in the British Museum is a statue of the Assyrian king Samsi-Vul, son of Shalmaneser. Around his neck is an almost perfect Maltese cross. On an accompanying figure, that of Ashur-nasir-pal, is a similar cross. The ancient Greek goddess Diana is pictured with a cross over her head and Bacchus, the Greek god of wine, is often pictured wearing a headdress adorned with crosses. Different types of crosses were used in Mexico centuries before the Spaniards arrived. The Egyptians used cross symbols in abundance, as did the Hindus. here are a few examples of Cross Symbol used around the world; *THE SUN CROSS; the circular shape of the sun which emphasises the ever recurring cyclical nature of the seasons is the origin of the this neolithic symbol. it combines a cross within a circle and is the simplest conceivable representation of the union of opposed polarities. probably the oldest symbol in the world, it appeared in asian, american, european, and indian art from the dawn of history. *THE GREEK CROSS the cross with 4 arms of equal length was a common sign in ancient greece, in pre-columbian america, in the near east, and in the euphrates-tigris region around 1500 B.C. it is found on assyrian and persian monuments and tablets, greek coins and statues. this cross appears in our world in a variety of contexts, for example the symbol for the red cross is a red greek cross. * THE LATIN- OR ROMAN CROSS the latin cross or ‘crux immissa’ is the most popular form of crosses. during the first three centuries of christianity, the cross was rare in christian iconography (although it is found on coins, medals, and ornaments anteriour to the christian era and descriptions of it are found in christian writings from the early 2nd century onwards. the cross first became prominent in christian imagery during the late 3rd century). * ALCHEMY ELEMENT SYMBOLS some alchemical elements bear the cross sign. for example the alchemical symbol for sulfur, which was a triangle at the top of a cross. (there is the biblical story of entateuch / genesis in which hell is thought of to smell of sulfur...) * MATHEMATICAL SIGN in mathematics a cross is regarded as a ‘plus sign’ - it appears for the first time in germany in 1489. *THE CROSS IN ASTROLOGY in astrology, a cross sign is really more of a symbol because it has many levels of meaning beyond the unambiguous name which indicates a particular sector of the sky. since ancient times a cross might mean ‘the cross of matter’, which is basically what it represents in astrology, where it appears as ‘the cardinal cross’. the vertical bar symbolizes spirit which interpenetrates the horizontal bar representing matter, or the earth plane (horizon line). * THE ROSICRUCIAN OR ROSE CROSS the hermetic rose cross is a very old mystical symbol. the end of each arm is inscribed with symbols of the three principles of alchemy: mercury, sulfur and salt. arT © e11en♥ vaman facebook/ellenvaman 1153.9 Excerpts; cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Library.sr/CT/BQA/k/161/What-Is-Origin-of-Symbol-of-Cross.htm designboom/history/cross_2.html britannica/EBchecked/topic/144028/cross webclipart.about/od/businessoffice/ss/Cross-Symbols-What-Do-They-Mean.htm
Posted on: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 03:30:40 +0000
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