CROSS

The Latin Cross is the most widely recognized cross and is a sacred emblem for the Christian faith.

Long associated with the Jesus and the crucifixion, when the Latin Cross is depicted with the image of Christ, it is called a crucifix. When folded, a perfect Latin cross creates a cube, which is said to symbolize earthly authority.

Prior to the Cross being adopted by the Christian faith, the Cross took on many forms and meanings including the Sun God, the four directions, the cosmos as well as the staff of Apollo. In some cultures the vertical line is considered male and spiritual; its horizontal line, female and earthly, though it has meant the opposite in others. In ancient times, people wore Crosses to ward off evil.

The Cross is said to be a symbol of Quetzalcoatl to the Mayans, whose arms were said to be birds and plants signifying the four seasons, ultimately linking the cross with the Tree of Life. Early Christians believed that Jesus Christ's cross was built from the Tree of Knowledge, which was the cause of the fall of man, so the Cross was seen as symbol of salvation. In Africa it was seen as a symbol of protection, and in Scandinavia, it was found carved into Bronze Age stones thought to represent the god Thor's hammer.

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