is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other, dividing one or two of the lines in half. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally; if they run diagonally, the design is technically termed a
The cross is one of the most ancient human symbols, and is used by many religions, such as
. It is frequently a representation of the division of the world into
(Chevalier, 1997) (or cardinal points), or alternately as the union of the concepts of
was introduced to English in the 10th century as the term for the instrument of the torturous execution of Christ (gradually replacing the earlier word
. The word can nowadays refer to the geometrical shape unrelated to its Christian significance. The Latin
It is not known when the first cross image was made; after circles, crosses are one of the first symbols drawn by children of all cultures. There are many cross-shaped
in European cult caves, dating back to the earliest stages of human cultural development in the
. Like other symbols from this period, their use continued in the
cultures in Europe. For example, celtic coins minted many centuries before the Christian era may have an entire side showing this type of cross, sometimes with the cardinal points marked by concave depressions in the same style as in stone age carvings. Other coins may be showing the cross held by a rider on a horse and springing a fern leaf, sometimes identified as a
Written crosses are used for many different purposes, particularly in mathematics.
A cross is often used as a check mark because it can be clearer, easier to create with an ordinary pen or pencil, and less obscuring of the text or image that is already present than a large dot. It also allows marking a position more accurately than a large dot.
A large cross through a text often means that it is wrong or should be considered deleted.
| Cross Name | Description | Picture |
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AnkhThe ankh was the Egyptian hieroglyphic character that read "eternal life", a triliteral sign for the consonants ˁ-n-ḫ...
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Also known as the Egyptian Cross, the Key of the Nile, the Looped Tau Cross, and the Ansate Cross. It was an Ancient EgyptAncient Egypt was an ancient civilization of eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. The civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh, and...
ian symbol of lifeLife is a characteristic that distinguishes objects that have self-sustaining biological processes from those that do not—either because such functions have ceased , or else because they lack such functions and are classified as "inanimate."In biology, the science of living organisms, "life"...
and fertility, predating the modern cross. Sometimes given a Latin name if it appears in specifically Christian contexts, such as the crux ansata ("handled cross"). |
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| Christian cross The Christian cross is the best-known religious symbol of Christianity. It is a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is related to the crucifix and to the more general family of cross symbols...
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Also known as the Latin cross or crux ordinaria. It is the most common symbol of ChristianityChristianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented by the revelations in the New Testament....
, intended to represent the death of JesusJesus of Nazareth —also known as Jesus Christ or occasionally Jesus the Christ—is the central figure of Christianity. Within most Christian denominations...
when he was crucifiedCrucifixion is an ancient method of painful execution in which the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead...
on the True CrossThe True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a Christian tradition, are believed to be from the actual cross upon which Jesus was crucified.According to post-Nicene historians, Socrates Scholasticus and others, the Empress Helena The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which,...
and his resurrection in the New TestamentThe New Testament is the name given to the second major division of the Christian Bible, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament, both terms being associated with Supersessionism...
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| Coptic ankh The Coptic ankh cross, also known as the Gnostic cross, has its origin in the Egyptian Ankh and is the pre Coptic cross of the early Christian gnostic movement.-References:*...
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The Coptic ankhThe Coptic ankh cross, also known as the Gnostic cross, has its origin in the Egyptian Ankh and is the pre Coptic cross of the early Christian gnostic movement.-References:*...
is an adaptation of the Ancient Egyptian Ankh used by early Gnostic Christians in Egypt Coptic crossThe original Coptic cross has its origin in the Coptic ankh symbol and was adopted by early Christian Gnostics such as the well known Valentinus of Alexandria, Egypt. The Coptic cross of today, used by Coptic Orthodox Christians, has many different forms...
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| Original Coptic Cross The original Coptic cross has its origin in the Coptic ankh symbol and was adopted by early Christian Gnostics such as the well known Valentinus of Alexandria, Egypt. The Coptic cross of today, used by Coptic Orthodox Christians, has many different forms...
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The original Coptic crossThe original Coptic cross has its origin in the Coptic ankh symbol and was adopted by early Christian Gnostics such as the well known Valentinus of Alexandria, Egypt. The Coptic cross of today, used by Coptic Orthodox Christians, has many different forms...
used by early Gnostic Christians in Egypt. |
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| Coptic Cross The original Coptic cross has its origin in the Coptic ankh symbol and was adopted by early Christian Gnostics such as the well known Valentinus of Alexandria, Egypt. The Coptic cross of today, used by Coptic Orthodox Christians, has many different forms...
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A small circle from which emanate four arms of equal length, with angled T shapes in the corners, cross-pieces outward, representing the nails used in Jesus' crucifixion. This cross receives its name from Coptic Christianitystyle="float: right; clear: right; background-color: transparent"|- {http://www.copticindex.com}||-The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria style="float: right; clear: right; background-color: transparent"|- {http://www.copticindex.com}||-The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria style="float:...
, which centered around Alexandria, Egypt. |
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| New Coptic Cross The original Coptic cross has its origin in the Coptic ankh symbol and was adopted by early Christian Gnostics such as the well known Valentinus of Alexandria, Egypt. The Coptic cross of today, used by Coptic Orthodox Christians, has many different forms...
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This new Coptic CrossThe original Coptic cross has its origin in the Coptic ankh symbol and was adopted by early Christian Gnostics such as the well known Valentinus of Alexandria, Egypt. The Coptic cross of today, used by Coptic Orthodox Christians, has many different forms...
is the cross currently used by the EgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Western Asia...
ian Christians and the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. It evolved from the older Coptic Crosses depicted above. A gallery of Coptic Crosses can be found here. |
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Sun crossThe sun cross, a cross inside a circle, is a common symbol in artefacts of Prehistoric Europe, particularly during the Neolithic to Bronze Age periods....
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Also known as the Sunwheel, solar cross. Used throughout Native AmericanThe indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Americas, their descendants, and many ethnic groups who identify with those peoples...
culture to represent the great Medicine WheelMedicine wheels, or sacred hoops, were constructed by laying stones in a particular pattern on the ground. Most medicine wheels follow the basic pattern of having a center of stone, and surrounding that is an outer ring of stones with "spokes", or lines of rocks radiating from the center...
of life. It's also the symbol used by the Gnostic MovementsGnosticism refers to diverse, syncretistic religious movements in antiquity consisting of various belief systems generally united in the teaching that humans are divine souls trapped in a material world created by an imperfect god, the demiurge; this being is frequently identified with the...
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High crossA high cross is a free-standing Christian cross made of stone and often richly decorated. They were raised primarily in Ireland, and Britain during the Early Middle Ages and sometimes later...
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Free-standing Celtic crossA Celtic cross is a symbol that combines a cross with a ring surrounding the intersection. The early Celtic stone high cross is generally in the form of a normal cross with a ring joining the arms for structural strength, often with an extended rectangular or cubic base that is mounted on the...
es commonly found in IrelandIreland is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. To the east of Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, is the island of Great Britain...
and to a lesser extent in Great BritainGreat Britain is an island lying to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island. With a population of about 59.6 million people, it is the third most populated island on Earth. Great Britain is surrounded by over 1000 smaller...
, very common in churches and graveyards. |
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| Canterbury cross The Canterbury Cross is one of the crosses that are used to symbolise the Christian faith. It is so called because it was designed after a Saxon brooch, dating ca. 850, that was found in Canterbury in England.-General:...
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Used in the Anglican Churches. It has four arms of equal length, each widening at the outer end in a hammer shape so that their rims nearly form a circle. Each arm bears a triangular panel incised with a triquetraTriquetra is a word derived from the Latin tri- and quetrus . Its original meaning was simply "triangle" and it has been used to refer to various three-cornered shapes. Nowadays, it has come to refer exclusively to a certain more complicated shape formed of three vesicae piscis, sometimes with an...
symbolizing the TrinityThe Christian doctrine of the Trinity teaches the unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three persons in one Godhead. The doctrine states that God is the Triune God, existing as three persons, or in the Greek hypostases, but one being. Each of the persons is understood as having the one...
. In the center of the cross is a small square. The Anglo-Saxon original, as a broochA brooch is a decorative jewelry item designed to be attached to garments. It is usually made of metal, often silver or gold but sometimes bronze or some other material...
, dates from c. 850 A.D. and was excavated in 1867 in CanterburyCanterbury lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a local government district of Kent, in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
, England. A stone replica can be found in Canterbury Cathedral and in many other Anglican cathedrals around the world. http://www.seiyaku.com/customs/crosses/canterbury.html |
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CrucifixA crucifix is a cross with a representation of Jesus' body, or corpus. It is a principal symbol of the Christian religion...
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A cross with a representation of JesusJesus of Nazareth —also known as Jesus Christ or occasionally Jesus the Christ—is the central figure of Christianity. Within most Christian denominations...
' body hanging from it. It is primarily used in the Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church. With more than a billion members, over half of all Christians and more than one-sixth of the world's population, the Catholic Church is a communion of the Western, or Latin Rite Church, and...
, Anglican churches, and Eastern Orthodox churches, and it emphasizes Christ's sacrifice— his death by crucifixionCrucifixion is an ancient method of painful execution in which the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead...
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| Greek cross |
Used especially by Eastern Orthodoxy and Early ChristianityEarly Christianity is commonly known as the Christianity of the roughly three centuries between the Crucifixion of Jesus and the First Council of Nicaea in 325....
Also known as the crux immissa quadrata. Has all arms of equal length. Often the arms curve wider as they go out. |
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| Serbian cross The Serbian Cross is a national symbol of Serbia and traces its roots to the Byzantine Empire. It is composed of central cross and four letter C-shapes on each of its corners....
(Tetragrammatic cross) |
The motif of a cross between four objects is derived from Constantine'sCaesar Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus Augustus , commonly known in English as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or Saint Constantine , was Roman emperor from 306, and the sole holder of that office from 324 until his death in...
labarumThe labarum was a vexillum that displayed the "Chi-Rho" symbol, formed from the first two Greek letters of the word "Christ" — Chi and Rho . It was first used by the Roman emperor Constantine I. Since the vexillum consisted of a flag suspended from the crossbar of a cross, it was ideally suited...
and has figured on ByzantineThe word Byzantine may refer to:Topics directly related to the Byzantine Empire* A citizen of The Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
coins, since the 6th c. Later, the 4 symbols of the cross have been interpreted as flints or firestones, but also as the initials (letters β) of the imperial motto of the Palaiologos dynastyPalaiologos , alternatively Palaeologus, was a Greek noble family, which produced the last ruling dynasty of the Byzantine Empire. After the Fourth Crusade, members of the family escaped to the Empire of Nicaea, where Michael VIII Palaiologos became co-emperor in 1259, recaptured Constantinople and...
: King of Kings, Ruling Over Kings (Greek: βασιλεύς βασιλέων, βασιλεύων βασιλευόντων - Basileus Basileōn, Basileuōn Basileuontōn).
The cross has been used by SerbianThe origins of the history of today's Serbia lie in the Slavic settlement on the Balkans, on the territories ruled by the Byzantine Empire, between 6th and 8th centuries...
states and the Serbian Orthodox ChurchThe Serbian Orthodox Church or the Church of Serbia is one of the autocephalous...
since the Middle Ages after Dušan the MightyStefan Uroš IV Dušan , called Silni , was the King of Serbia and Emperor of the Serbs and Greeks . Under his rule Serbia reached its territorial peak and, as the Serbian Empire, was one of the larger states in Europe at the time...
was crowned Emperor (Tsar) of the SerbsSerbs are a South Slavic people living in the Central Europe and the Balkans , between the Balkan- and Carpathian mountains in the east and the Adriatic sea in the west. They are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and, to a lesser extent, in Croatia...
and GreeksThe Greeks , also known as Hellenes, are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighbouring regions, who can also be found in diaspora communities around the world....
(16 April 1345). Today it is the national, religious and ethnic symbol of SerbsSerbs are a South Slavic people living in the Central Europe and the Balkans , between the Balkan- and Carpathian mountains in the east and the Adriatic sea in the west. They are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and, to a lesser extent, in Croatia...
and SerbiaSerbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a country located in both Central and Southeastern Europe. Its territory covers the southern part of the Pannonian Plain and central part of the Balkans...
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| Florian cross |
Adopted as an emblem by the fire service, this cross is named for Saint FlorianSaint Florian is a Christian saint, and the patron saint of Poland; Linz, Austria; chimney sweeps; and firefighters. His feast day is May 4. St...
, the patron saint of PolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe . Poland is bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, AustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.3 million people in Central Europe. It borders both Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west...
and firefighters. Although similar to the Maltese CrossThe Maltese cross is identified as the symbol of an order of Christian warriors known as the Knights Hospitaller or Knights of Malta and through them came to be identified with the Mediterranean island of Malta and is considered one of the National symbols of Malta...
and Cross pattéeA cross pattée is a type of cross that has arms which are narrow at the center, and broader at the perimeter. The name comes from the fact that the shape of each arm of the cross was thought to resemble a paw...
, it differs in having arms rounded outwards at the ends.
Two different versions are included here; the one above is commonly found on fire service badges, patches, and emblems; the one below is typical of the St. Florian medallion or medal. |
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| Eastern cross |
Used in the Eastern Orthodox ChurchThe Orthodox Church, also officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to in English speaking countries as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the world's second largest Christian communion, estimated to number 225 million members...
. The top line is said to represent the headboard, and the bottom, slanted line represents the footrest, wrenched loose by Jesus' writhing in intense agony. It is raised to the left side, because that was the side of the righteous criminal who said to Jesus: "remember me when you come into your kingdom". This symbolises the victory of good over evil. The letters IC XC found at the end of the main arm of most Eastern Orthodox Crosses are a ChristogramA Christogram is a monogram or combination of letters that forms an abbreviation for the name of Jesus Christ, traditionally used as a Christian symbol...
, representing the name of Jesus Christ. See also the Cross of Salem |
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| St. Brigid's Cross |
This cross is found throughout Ireland. It is told that the cross was made by Brigid, daughter of a pagan king from reeds to be used as an instrument of conversion. However, Brigid's name is derived from Brigit (also spelled Brigid, Brìghde, Brìde, and Bríde), a Celtic Goddess of fire, poetry, and smithcraft, and today the cross is used to protect houses from fire. This is an example of the integration of religious traditions. |
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| Chi-Rho |
Constantine ICaesar Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus Augustus , commonly known in English as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or Saint Constantine , was Roman emperor from 306, and the sole holder of that office from 324 until his death in...
's emblem, the Chi-Rho (from the two Greek lettersThe Greek alphabet is a set of twenty-four letters that has been used to write the Greek language since the late 9th or early 8th century BCE. It is the first and oldest alphabet in the narrow sense that it notes each vowel and consonant with a separate symbol. It is as such in continuous use to...
that make it up) is also known as the labarumThe labarum was a vexillum that displayed the "Chi-Rho" symbol, formed from the first two Greek letters of the word "Christ" — Chi and Rho . It was first used by the Roman emperor Constantine I. Since the vexillum consisted of a flag suspended from the crossbar of a cross, it was ideally suited...
or ChristogramA Christogram is a monogram or combination of letters that forms an abbreviation for the name of Jesus Christ, traditionally used as a Christian symbol...
. Several variants exist. |
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| Lorraine Cross The Cross of Lorraine is a heraldic cross. The "double cross" consists of a vertical line crossed by two smaller horizontal bars. In the ancient version, both bars were of the same length...
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Used in heraldryHeraldry is the profession, study, or art of devising, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound *harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
. It is similar to a patriarchal crossThe Patriarchal cross is a variant of the Christian cross, the universal religious symbol of Christianity. Similar to the familiar Latin cross, the Patriarchal cross possesses a smaller crossbar placed above the main one, so that both crossbars are near the top. Sometimes the patriarchal cross has...
, but usually has one bar near the middle and one near the top, rather than having both near the top. Is part of the heraldic arms of Lorraine in eastern France. It was originally held to be a symbol of Joan of ArcSaint Joan of Arc is a national heroine of France and a Catholic saint. A peasant girl born in eastern France, she led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War, claiming divine guidance, and was indirectly responsible for the coronation of Charles VII...
, renowned for her perseverance against foreign invaders of France. |
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Marian CrossThe Marian Cross is an informal name applied to a Roman Catholic cross design. It consists of a traditional Latin cross with the crossbar extended on the right, and a letter "M" in the lower right quadrant....
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Included on the coat of armsA coat of arms, more properly called an armorial achievement, armorial bearings or often just arms for short, in European tradition, is a design belonging to a particular person and used by them in a wide variety of ways. Historically, they were used by knights to identify them apart from enemy...
of Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła served as Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death almost 27 years later. His was the second-longest pontificate; only Pope Pius IX served longer...
, the Marian Cross is a CatholicThe word Catholic is derived from the Greek adjective , meaning "universal". In the context of Christian ecclesiology, it has a rich history and several usages. For some, the term "Catholic Church" refers to the church in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, made up of the Latin Rite and the 22...
adaptation of the traditional Latin cross to emphasize Catholic devotion to Mary. |
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| Nordic Cross |
Used in flagsVexillology is the scholarly study of flags. The word is a synthesis of the Latin word vexillum and the suffix -logy, meaning "study of". The vexillum was a particular type of flag used by Roman legions during the classical era; its name is a diminutive form of the word vela meaning sail, and thus...
descended from the DannebrogThe national flag of Denmark, Dannebrog, is red with a white Scandinavian cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side. The cross design of the Danish flag was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries: Sweden, Norway, Finland,...
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| Occitan cross The Occitan cross — also cross of Occitania, cross of Languedoc, cross of Forcalquier and Toulouse cross,— is the symbol of Occitania...
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Based on the counts of ToulouseToulouse is a city in southwest France on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. With 1,102,882 inhabitants as of Jan...
's traditional coat of arms, it soon became the symbol of OccitaniaOccitania , also called sometimes the Oc Country , is the territory where Occitan is the traditional language in use. This cultural area is roughly the southern half of France. It includes Monaco, spans parts of Italy and Spain...
as a whole. |
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| Papal Cross The papal cross or ferula is an emblem of the papal office. As a material cross, it was carried before the Roman pontiff in processions or was used by him as his pastoral staff....
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The three cross-bars represent the PopeThe pope is the Bishop of Rome and, as such, is leader of the worldwide Catholic Church...
's triple role as Bishop of Rome, Patriarch of the West, and successor of St. Peter, Chief of the Apostles. |
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Patriarchal crossThe Patriarchal cross is a variant of the Christian cross, the universal religious symbol of Christianity. Similar to the familiar Latin cross, the Patriarchal cross possesses a smaller crossbar placed above the main one, so that both crossbars are near the top. Sometimes the patriarchal cross has...
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Similar to a traditional Christian cross, but with an additional, smaller crossbar above the main one meant to represent all the Orthodox Christian Archbishops and Patriarchs.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, this cross is sometimes seen with an additional, slanted bar near the foot of the cross (see Byzantine Cross).
This cross is similar to the Lorraine Cross, Caravaca Cross, and Salem Cross |
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| Presbyterian Cross |
Used by Presbyterian denominations. |
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| Red Cross |
Used as a symbol for medical care in most of the world, the Red Crescent being used in Islamic countries and the Magen David AdomThe Magen David Adom is Israel's national emergency medical, disaster, ambulance and blood bank service. The name means "Red Shield of David" but is usually translated as "Red Star of David"...
in IsraelIsrael officially the State of Israel , is a developed state in Western Asia located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan in the east, and Egypt on the southwest, and contains geographically diverse features within its...
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| Cross of Sacrifice The Cross of Sacrifice or War Cross was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and is usually present in Commonwealth war cemeteries containing 40 or more graves. It is normally a freestanding four point limestone Latin cross in one of three sizes ranging in...
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A Latin cross with a superimposed sword, blade down. It is a symbol used by the Commonwealth War Graves CommissionThe Commonwealth War Graves Commission is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states established through Royal Charter to mark, record and maintain the graves and places of commemoration of Commonwealth of Nations military forces killed during the two World Wars...
at the site of many war memorials. |
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| Cross of Salem |
Also known as a pontifical cross because it is carried before the PopeThe pope is the Bishop of Rome and, as such, is leader of the worldwide Catholic Church...
, it is similar to a patriarchal cross, but with an additional crossbar below the main crossbar, equal in length to the upper crossbar. It is also similar to the Eastern Cross. |
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Royal Flag of GeorgiaThe official flag of Georgia is the "five-cross flag", restored to official use on January 14, 2004, after a break of some 500 years...
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Used in GeorgiaGeorgia Georgia Georgia is a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Situated at the juncture of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the south by Turkey and Armenia, and to the east by Azerbaijan...
as national flag, first used by GeorgianGeorgia Georgia Georgia is a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Situated at the juncture of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the south by Turkey and Armenia, and to the east by Azerbaijan...
King Vakhtang Gorgasali in the 5th century and later adopted by Queen Tamar of GeorgiaTamar , of the Bagrationi dynasty, was Queen Regnant of Georgia from 1184 to 1213...
in the 13th century. The flag depicts a Jerusalem cross, adopted during the reign of George V of GeorgiaGeorge V, the "Brilliant" was King of Georgia from 1299 to 1302 and again from 1314 until his death...
who drove out the MongolsThe name Mongol specifies one or several ethnic groups, now mainly located in Mongolia, China, and Russia.-Definition:...
from Georgia in 1334. |
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| St. Nino's Cross The Grapevine Cross also known as the Georgian cross or Saint Nino's cross, is a major symbol of the Georgian Orthodox Church, dating from the 4th century AD, when Christianity became an official religion in the kingdom of Iberia .It is recognisable by its horizontal arms drooping a little...
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Also known as a "Grapevine crossThe Grapevine Cross also known as the Georgian cross or Saint Nino's cross, is a major symbol of the Georgian Orthodox Church, dating from the 4th century AD, when Christianity became an official religion in the kingdom of Iberia .It is recognisable by its horizontal arms drooping a little...
" and traditionally ascribed to Saint NinoSaint Nino , Equal to the Apostles and the Enlightener of Georgia, Saint Nino ( (ts'minda nino), ), (sometimes St. Nina or St. Ninny) Equal to the Apostles and the Enlightener of Georgia, Saint Nino ( (ts'minda nino), ), (sometimes St. Nina or St. Ninny) Equal to the Apostles and the Enlightener...
, the 4th-century female baptizer of the Georgians, it is used as a symbol of the Georgian Orthodox Church. |
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| St. Thomas Cross |
Also known as a "Mar Thoma Cross" and traditionally ascribed to Saint ThomasThomas the Apostle, also called Doubting Thomas or Didymus , was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is best known for disbelieving Jesus' resurrection when first told of it, then proclaiming "My Lord and my God" on seeing Jesus in . He was perhaps the only Apostle who went outside the Roman...
, the Apostole of India, it is used as a symbol of the Syro Malabar Catholic Church and venerated by all Saint Thomas ChristiansThe Saint Thomas Christians are an ancient body of Christians on the east and west coasts of India, claiming spiritual descent from the Apostle St. Thomas. Until the middle of the XVII century, the Thomas Christians were all one in faith and rite...
denominations. |
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| Saint Andrew's Cross |
Used in ScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
's national flag, the naval ensign of the Russian NavyThe Russian Navy or VMF is the naval arm of the Russian Armed Forces. The international designation of Russian naval vessels is RFS—"Russian Federation Ship"....
, and the former Confederate States of AmericaThe Confederate States of America was a separatist political entity existing between 1861 to 1865, established by eleven southern slave states of the United States of America, each of which had previously declared their secession from the United States...
; it is also called the SaltireA saltire, Saint Andrew's Cross, or crux decussata , is a heraldic symbol in the form of a diagonal cross or letter X...
, the Boundary Cross (because it was used by the Romans as a barrier) and the crux decussata. Saint AndrewAndrew the Apostle , called in the Orthodox tradition Protokletos, or the First-called, is a Christian Apostle and the brother of Peter the Apostle...
is believed to have suffered a martyr's death on such a cross, hence its name. The cross does not have to be at this particular angle to qualify as a saltire; the symbol XX is the twenty-fourth letter in the basic modern Latin alphabet. Its name in English is spelled ex, plural exes .-History:...
can also be considered a St. Andrew's Cross. |
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St George's CrossSt George's Cross is a centred red cross on a white background. This pattern was associated with Saint George from medieval times....
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Used in EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
's national flag. |
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| St George's Cross (in Scandinavia) |
The definition of a St George's crossSt George's Cross is a centred red cross on a white background. This pattern was associated with Saint George from medieval times....
is, in ScandinaviaScandinavia is a geographical region in northern Europe that includes, and is named after, the Scanian Province. It consists of the kingdoms of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark...
, extended to also include a centred cross, normally red but not necessarily, with triangular arms that do not fill the square. The example beside is the cross of the Swedish Order of FreemasonsThe Swedish Rite is a variation of Freemasonry that is worked in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. A slight variation is common in parts of Germany under the Große Landesloge der Freimaurer von Deutschland. Also other craft masonic bodies are working in the nordic countries...
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| Saint Peter's Cross The Cross of St. Peter is an inverted Latin cross traditionally used as a Christian symbol, but in recent times also used widely and incorrectly as an anti-Christ symbol, a common but popular misconception...
/Inverted Cross |
An upside-down Latin cross, based on a tradition that holds that Saint PeterSimon Peter , Pétros “Rock”, Kephas in Hellenized Aramaic) was a leader of the early Christian Church, who features prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. Peter was the son of John, and was from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee...
was martyred by being crucified upside-down. Today it is often associated with anti-Christian or SatanicSatanism comprises a number of related beliefs and social phenomena. They share the feature of symbolism, veneration or admiration of Satan . Satan first appeared in the Hebrew Bible and was an Angel who challenged the religious faith of humans. In the Book of Job he is called "the Satan" and...
groups. |
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| Tau Cross The Tau cross, named after the Greek letter it resembles, is suspected to have originated with the Egyptians. When a King was initiatied into the Egyptian mysteries a tau was placed against his lips. It has been a symbol to many cultures before Christianity and is strongly identified with the bull...
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Also known as Saint AnthonyAnthony the Great , , also known as Saint Anthony, Anthony the Abbot, Anthony of Egypt, Anthony of the Desert, Anthony the Anchorite, Abba Antonius , and Father of All Monks, was a Christian saint from Egypt, a prominent leader among the Desert Fathers...
's Cross, the Egyptian Cross and the crux commissa. It is shaped like the letter TT is the twentieth letter in the basic modern Latin alphabet. Its name in English is spelled tee. It is the most commonly used consonant and the second most common letter in the English language.- History :...
. Francis of AssisiSaint Francis of Assisi was a Catholic deacon and the founder of the Order of Friars Minor, more commonly known as the Franciscans....
used it as his signature. |
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| Thieves' Cross |
Also known as the Furka Cross. The forkAs a piece of cutlery or kitchenware, a fork is a tool consisting of a handle with several narrow tines on one end. The fork, as an eating utensil, has been a feature primarily of the West, whereas in East Asia chopsticks have been more prevalent...
, shaped like the letter YThe letter Y is the twenty-fifth and penultimate letter in the basic modern Latin alphabet. Its name in English is spelled wye or occasionally wy, plural wyes.-History:...
. http://www.seiyaku.com/customs/crosses/forked.html |
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| Mariner's Cross |
The Mariner's Cross is a stylized cross in the shape of an anchorAn anchor is an object, often made out of metal, that is used to attach a ship to the bottom of a body of water at a specific point. There are two primary classes of anchors—temporary and permanent. A permanent anchor is often called a mooring, and is rarely moved; it is quite possible the vessel...
. The Mariner's Cross is also referred to as St. Clement's CrossPope Saint Clement I, , also known as Saint Clement of Rome , is listed from an early date as a Bishop of Rome. He was the first Apostolic Father of the early Christian church....
in reference to the way he was martyred. |
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| Order of Christ Cross The Order of Christ Cross is the emblem of the historical Order of Christ, of Portugal. It has since become a generic Portuguese emblem, used in the sails of the Portuguese carracks during the Discoveries, by the Portuguese Air Force and on the flag of the Autonomous Region of Madeira.It was also...
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Cross originally used by the PortuguesePortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic , is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of mainland Europe and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east...
Order of ChristFour chivalric orders, are known as the Order of Christ:* Order of Christ – former Knights Templar Order awarded initially by the kings of Portugal, now by the Portuguese state...
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Since then it has become a symbol of PortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic , is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of mainland Europe and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east...
, used on the sails of the carracks during the Discoveries EraAn era is a commonly used word for long period of time. When used in science, for example geology, eras denote clearly defined periods of time of arbitrary but well defined length, such as for example the Mesozoic era from 252 Ma–66 Ma, delimited by a start event and an end event. When used in...
, and currently by the Madeira Autonomous RegionMadeira is a Portuguese archipelago in the mid Atlantic Ocean that lies between and . It is one of the Autonomous regions of Portugal, with Madeira Island and Porto Santo Island being the only inhabited islands...
of PortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic , is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of mainland Europe and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east...
and the Portuguese Air ForceThe Portuguese Air Force is the air force of Portugal. Formed on July 1, 1952, with the Aeronáutica Militar and Aviação Naval united in a single independent Air Force, it is one of the three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces and its origins dates back to 1912, when the military aviation...
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Extreme-right variant of the Celtic CrossA Celtic cross is a symbol that combines a cross with a ring surrounding the intersection. The early Celtic stone high cross is generally in the form of a normal cross with a ring joining the arms for structural strength, often with an extended rectangular or cubic base that is mounted on the...
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Some white nationalist and neo-fascist groups adopted this variation of the Celtic crossA Celtic cross is a symbol that combines a cross with a ring surrounding the intersection. The early Celtic stone high cross is generally in the form of a normal cross with a ring joining the arms for structural strength, often with an extended rectangular or cubic base that is mounted on the...
, made up of simple lines, without any of the ornamental complexity of traditional Celtic crosses. It is thought that this basic variation's minor resemblance to the swastikaThe swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form or its mirrored left-facing form. Archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates from the Neolithic period and was first found in the Indus Valley Civilization of the Indian...
is the reason it has become popular in such circles. This variation was also used by the Zodiac killerThe Zodiac Killer was a serial killer who operated in Northern California in the late 1960s. His identity remains unknown. The Zodiac killer coined his name in a series of taunting letters he sent to the press...
at the scenes of his crimes.
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Serbian crossThe Serbian Cross is a national symbol of Serbia and traces its roots to the Byzantine Empire. It is composed of central cross and four letter C-shapes on each of its corners....
(Tetragrammatic cross)>
SwastikaThe swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form or its mirrored left-facing form. Archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates from the Neolithic period and was first found in the Indus Valley Civilization of the Indian...
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The swastika is an equilateralIn geometry, an equilateral polygon is a polygon which has all sides of the same length.For instance, an equilateral triangle is a triangle of equal edge lengths...
crossA cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other, dividing one or two of the lines in half. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally; if they run diagonally, the design is technically termed a saltire....
with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form or its mirrored left-facing form.
Archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates from the NeolithicThe Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BCE in the Middle East that is traditionally considered the last part of the Stone Age...
period. It occurs mainly in the modern day culture of IndiaThe culture of India has been shaped by its long history, unique geography, diverse demographics and the absorption of customs, traditions and ideas from some of its neighbours as well as by preserving its ancient heritages, which were formed during the Indus Valley Civilization and evolved further...
, sometimes as a geometrical motif and sometimes as a religious symbol. It remains widely used in Eastern religions / Dharmic religion such as HinduismHinduism is the predominant religion of the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism is often referred to as ', a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal law", by its adherents. Generic "types" of Hinduism that attempt to accommodate a variety of complex views span folk and Vedic Hinduism to bhakti tradition, as...
, BuddhismBuddhism, as traditionally conceived, is a path of salvation attained through insight into the ultimate nature of reality. It encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha...
and JainismJainism is an ancient dharmic religion from India that prescribes a path of non-violence for all forms of living beings in this world. Its philosophy and practice relies mainly on self-effort in progressing the soul on the spiritual ladder to divine consciousness...
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Though once commonly used all over much of the world without stigma, because of its iconic usage in Nazi GermanyNazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany between 1933 and 1945, while it was led by Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Worker's Party . The name Third Reich refers to the state as the successor to the Holy Roman Empire of the Middle Ages and the German...
the symbol has become stigmatized in the Western worldThe Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term that can have multiple meanings depending on its context...
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Skull and crossbonesA skull and crossbones is a symbol consisting of a human skull and two bones crossed together under the skull. Today, it is generally used as a warning of danger, usually in regard to poisonous substances.-History of the symbol:...
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Not a cross as such, but a saltire made of bones, with an overlaid skull. While traditionally associated with pirates, it was actually relatively rarely used by them, each ship having its own design, often involving an hourglassAn hourglass, also known as a sandglass, sand timer, sand clock or egg timer, is a device for the measurement of time. It consists of two glass bulbs placed one above the other which are connected by a narrow tube. One of the bulbs is usually filled with fine sand which flows through the narrow...
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and do not necessarily have any special meanings commonly associated with them. Not all the crosses of heraldry and the crosses with commonly known contexts are listed below.
| Cross name | Description | Picture |
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| The cross as heraldic "ordinary" |
A simple heraldicHeraldry is the profession, study, or art of devising, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound *harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
cross (the default if there are no additional specifying words) has arms of roughly equal length, artistically proportioned to the particular shape of the shield, which extend to the edges of the shield. Illustrated is the blazonIn heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of, most often, a coat of arms or flag, which enables a person to construct or reconstruct the appropriate image...
"Azure, a cross Or" (i.e. a gold cross on a blue shield).
A cross which does not extend to the edges of the shield is humetty, in heraldic terminology. |
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| Cross anchry The Anchored Cross, or Mariner's Cross, is a stylized cross in the shape of an anchor. It is a symbol which is shaped like a plus sign with anchor-like protrusions at the end of each arm, hence the name Anchored Cross...
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A stylized cross in the shape of an anchor. Also known as the anchored cross or mariner's cross. |
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| Cross barbée |
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Also known as the cross barby or arrow cross, this symbol consists of two double-ended arrows in a cross configuration. Best known today for its use by the fascist Arrow Cross PartyThe Arrow Cross Party was a national socialist pro-Nazi party led by Ferenc Szálasi, which ruled Hungary as the Hungarian State from October 15, 1944 to January 1945...
in the 1930s, the symbol actually dates to ancient times and was used by HungarianHungary , in English officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in the Carpathian Basin of Central Europe, bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia. Its capital is Budapest. Hungary is a member of OECD, NATO, EU, V4 and is a Schengen state...
tribes in the Middle AgesThe Middle Ages of European history is a period of European history covering roughly a millennium in the 5th century through 16th centuries. More specific starting and ending points are sometimes adopted by scholars to suit their respective specializations or current focus...
. In ChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic, religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, who Christians believe was the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, and the Son of God.The term "Christian" is also used adjectivally to...
use, the ends of this cross resemble the barbs of fish hooks, or fish spears. This alludes to the IchthysIchthys or Ikhthus is the ancient and classical Greek word for "fish." In English it refers to a symbol consisting of two intersecting arcs, the ends of the right side extending beyond the meeting point so as to resemble the profile of a fish, said to have been used by early Christians as a secret...
symbol of ChristChrist is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed". It is a translation of the Hebrew . The term "Christ" was a title rather than a proper name. In the four gospels in the New Testament, the word "Christ" is nearly always preceded by the definite article...
, and is suggestive of the "fishers of men" theme in the GospelA gospel is a writing that describes the life of Jesus. The word is primarily used to refer to the four canonical texts: the Gospel of Matthew, Gospel of Mark, Gospel of Luke and Gospel of John, probably written between AD 65 and 80...
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| Cross bottony |
A cross with the ends of the arms bottonyIn heraldry, bottony refers to a symbol having a bud or button, or a kind of trefoil, at the end; furnished with knobs or buttons. Hence, a cross bottony is a cross having each arm terminating in three rounded lobes, forming a sort of trefoil...
(or botonny), i.e. shaped like an architectural trefoilTrefoil is a graphic form composed of the outline of three overlapping rings used in architecture and Christian symbolism...
. It occurs counterchanged on the flag of MarylandThe Flag of the State of Maryland consists of the heraldic banner of George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore. It is the only state flag in the United States to be based on British heraldry. The Flag of the State of Maryland consists of the heraldic banner of George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore. It is...
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| Cross cercelée |
A cross which, opening at the ends, turns round both ways, like a ram's horns. |
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| Cross crosslet |
A cross with the ends of each arm crossed. |
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| Cross fleury In heraldry, a Cross fleury is a cross adorned at the ends with flowers, generally with Fleur-de-lis, Trefoils, etc. Also"Cross Flory," or "Flourished Cross."...
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A cross with the ends of the arms fleury (or flory), having a shape like a fleur-de-lys. |
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| Cross fourchee |
One form of the heraldic cross fourchee (fourchée, fourchy) or cross fourche (meaning "forked"). |
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Cross fylfotFylfot or fylfot cross is a synonym for swastika, sometimes used in Britain.However – at least in modern heraldry texts, such as Friar and Woodcock & Robinson – the fylfot differs somewhat from the archetypal form of the swastika: always upright and typically with truncated limbs, as...
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Upright cross with truncated bent arms |
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| Jerusalem cross The Jerusalem cross, also known as Crusaders' cross, is an heraldic cross or Christian symbol consisting of a large Greek cross surrounded by four smaller Greek crosses, one in each quadrant....
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Also known as the Crusader's Cross. This cross was the symbol of the Crusader Kingdom of JerusalemThe Kingdom of Jerusalem was a Christian kingdom established in the Levant in 1099 after the First Crusade. It lasted nearly two hundred years, from 1099 until 1291 when the last remaining possession, Acre, was destroyed by the Mamluks....
, which existed for almost two hundred years after the First Crusade. The four smaller crosses are said to symbolize either the four books of the Gospel or the four directions in which the Word of Christ spread from Jerusalem. Alternately, all five crosses can symbolize the five wounds of Christ during the Passion. This symbol is also used in the flag of GeorgiaThe official flag of Georgia is the "five-cross flag", restored to official use on January 14, 2004, after a break of some 500 years...
. It is also the logo for the Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulcher of JerusalemThe Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is a prestigious Catholic chivalric order of Knighthood that traces its roots to Duke Godfrey of Bouillon, principal leader of the First Crusade. In 1496, Pope Alexander VI created the office of Grand Master of the Order, and the office...
as well as the Franciscan order's Custody of the Holy Land. Many retreats including the Ignatian Kairos Retreat, and the Marian L.I.F.E. retreat bestow this cross on its participants as a sign of shared spirituality. |
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| Maltese cross |
With arms which narrow towards the center, and are indented at the ends. The "eight-pointed cross" (with no curved lines). |
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| Cross moline The cross moline is a design element used as a mark of cadency in heraldry, particularly English heraldry. It is so called because its shape resembles a millrind , the iron clamp of the upper millstone. It is borne both inverted and rebated, and sometimes saltirewise or in saltire...
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In a cross moline, the ends of the arms are split and curved back. |
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| Cross patonce |
A cross patonce is more or less intermediate between a cross pattée and a cross flory (or fleury). |
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| Cross pattée A cross pattée is a type of cross that has arms which are narrow at the center, and broader at the perimeter. The name comes from the fact that the shape of each arm of the cross was thought to resemble a paw...
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A cross pattee (pattée, patty), or formée (formy) has arms narrowing towards the centre, but with non-indented ends. See also Iron CrossThe Iron Cross was a military decoration of the Kingdom of Prussia, and later of Germany, which was established by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia and first awarded on 10 March 1813 in Breslau...
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| Cross pommee |
A cross pommee (pommée, pommy) has a circular knob at the end of each arm. |
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| Cross potent A cross potent, also known as a crutch cross, is a form of heraldic cross with crossbars or "crutches" at the four ends. In German, it is known as a Krückenkreuz...
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This cross has a crossbar at the end of each of its arms. "Potent" is an old word for a crutch, and is used in heraldic terminology to describe a T shape. It is used by many, mostly Roman Catholic, Scouting and Guiding organisationsScouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, so that they may play constructive roles in society....
in their logos and insignia. |
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| Quadrate |
A cross with a square at the intersection point. |
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| Cross triple parted and fretted |
In heraldry, a "cross triple parted and fretted" (or "treble parted and fretted") is interlaced. Here, a version which is "Or on an Azure field" (gold on blue) is shown. |
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| Cross voided |
A "cross voided throughout", also known as the Gammadia, can be seen as a Greek cross with its centre lines removed, or as composed of four angles (L shapes) separated by a thin space. So the name "gammadia" refers to its being made up of four shapes similar to a capital Greek letter gammaGamma uppercase Γ, lowercase γ; ) is the third letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 3. It was derived from the Phoenician letter Gimel . Letters that arose from Gamma include the Roman C and G and the Cyrillic letters Ge Г and Ghe Ґ.In Modern Greek, it...
; the word gammadion can also refer to a swastikaThe swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form or its mirrored left-facing form. Archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates from the Neolithic period and was first found in the Indus Valley Civilization of the Indian...
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| Cross fitchy |
A cross fitchy is a variation where the lower part is fashioned as a sword blade. This can be combined with other variations, e.g. cross crosslet fitchy, shown here. |
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| Cross of St James The Cross of St. James, similar to a Cross Flory Fitch or Cross Fitchy is formed by a Cross Flory, where the lower part is fashioned as a sword blade - making this a cross of a warrior...
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The Cross of St. James, similar to a Cross Flory Fitch, is formed by a Cross Flory, where the lower part is fashioned as a sword blade (fitched)—making this a cross of a warrior. It is most frequently depicted in red. (The version depicted here is the one used by the order of SantiagoThe Order of Santiago or the Order of Saint James of Compostela was founded in the 12th century, and owes its name to the national patron of Spain, Santiago The Order of Santiago or the Order of Saint James of Compostela was founded in the 12th century, and owes its name to the national patron of...
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There are numerous other variations on the cross in heraldry. See
is online, and contains much information about variants of crosses used in heraldry.
. The
since the 17th century has displayed an equilateral cross in a square (the only
. It appears on the national flags of
, made in the 5th century BC, are carved into the cliffside in the shape of a cross. They are known as the "Persian crosses".