cross | Definition, Symbolism, Types, & History | Britannica

cross, the principal symbol of the Christian religion, recalling the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the redeeming benefits of his Passion ... cross TableofContents cross Introduction FastFacts 2-MinSummary RelatedContent Media Images More MoreArticlesOnThisTopic Contributors ArticleHistory Home Philosophy&Religion ReligiousBeliefs cross religioussymbol Actions Cite verifiedCite Whileeveryefforthasbeenmadetofollowcitationstylerules,theremaybesomediscrepancies. Pleaserefertotheappropriatestylemanualorothersourcesifyouhaveanyquestions. SelectCitationStyle MLA APA ChicagoManualofStyle CopyCitation Share Share Sharetosocialmedia Facebook Twitter URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/cross-religious-symbol GiveFeedback ExternalWebsites Feedback Corrections?Updates?Omissions?Letusknowifyouhavesuggestionstoimprovethisarticle(requireslogin). FeedbackType Selectatype(Required) FactualCorrection Spelling/GrammarCorrection LinkCorrection AdditionalInformation Other YourFeedback SubmitFeedback Thankyouforyourfeedback Oureditorswillreviewwhatyou’vesubmittedanddeterminewhethertorevisethearticle. JoinBritannica'sPublishingPartnerProgramandourcommunityofexpertstogainaglobalaudienceforyourwork! ExternalWebsites JewishEncyclopedia.com-Cross BritannicaWebsites ArticlesfromBritannicaEncyclopediasforelementaryandhighschoolstudents. cross-StudentEncyclopedia(Ages11andup) Print Cite verifiedCite Whileeveryefforthasbeenmadetofollowcitationstylerules,theremaybesomediscrepancies. Pleaserefertotheappropriatestylemanualorothersourcesifyouhaveanyquestions. SelectCitationStyle MLA APA ChicagoManualofStyle CopyCitation Share Share Sharetosocialmedia Facebook Twitter URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/cross-religious-symbol Feedback ExternalWebsites Feedback Corrections?Updates?Omissions?Letusknowifyouhavesuggestionstoimprovethisarticle(requireslogin). FeedbackType Selectatype(Required) FactualCorrection Spelling/GrammarCorrection LinkCorrection AdditionalInformation Other YourFeedback SubmitFeedback Thankyouforyourfeedback Oureditorswillreviewwhatyou’vesubmittedanddeterminewhethertorevisethearticle. JoinBritannica'sPublishingPartnerProgramandourcommunityofexpertstogainaglobalaudienceforyourwork! ExternalWebsites JewishEncyclopedia.com-Cross BritannicaWebsites ArticlesfromBritannicaEncyclopediasforelementaryandhighschoolstudents. cross-StudentEncyclopedia(Ages11andup) By TheEditorsofEncyclopaediaBritannica • LastUpdated: May26,2022 • EditHistory TableofContents PaoloVeneziano:TheCrucifixion Seeallmedia KeyPeople: PhilippeCaffiéri ...(Showmore) RelatedTopics: SaintAnthony’scross Greekcross Latincross SaintAndrew’scross crucifix ...(Showmore) Seeallrelatedcontent→ Summary Readabriefsummaryofthistopic cross,theprincipalsymboloftheChristianreligion,recallingtheCrucifixionofJesusChristandtheredeemingbenefitsofhisPassionanddeath.ThecrossisthusasignbothofChristhimselfandofthefaithofChristians.Inceremonialusage,makingasignofthecrossmaybe,accordingtothecontext,anactofprofessionoffaith,aprayer,adedication,orabenediction.Therearefourbasictypesoficonographicrepresentationsofthecross:thecruxquadrata,orGreekcross,withfourequalarms;thecruximmissa,orLatincross,whosebasestemislongerthantheotherthreearms;thecruxcommissa,intheformoftheGreeklettertau,sometimescalledSt.Anthony’scross;andthecruxdecussata,namedfromtheRomandecussis,orsymbolofthenumeral10,alsoknownasSt.Andrew’scrossforthesupposedmannerofthemartyrdomofSt.AndrewtheApostle.TraditionfavoursthecruximmissaasthatonwhichChristdied,butsomebelievethatitwasacruxcommissa.Themanyvariationsandornamentationsofprocessional,altar,andheraldiccrosses,ofcarvedandpaintedcrossesinchurches,graveyards,andelsewhere,aredevelopmentsofthesefourtypes.GreekcrossCruxquadrata(Greekcross).EncyclopædiaBritannica,Inc.LatincrossCruximmissa(Latincross).EncyclopædiaBritannica,Inc.St.Anthony'scrossCruxcommissa(St.Anthony'scross).EncyclopædiaBritannica,Inc.St.Andrew'scrossCruxdecussata(St.Andrew'scross).EncyclopædiaBritannica,Inc.Crossformswereusedassymbols,religiousorotherwise,longbeforetheChristianEra,butitisnotalwaysclearwhethertheyweresimplymarksofidentificationorpossessionorweresignificantforbeliefandworship.Twopre-ChristiancrossformshavehadsomevogueinChristianusage.TheancientEgyptianhieroglyphicsymboloflife—theankh,ataucrosssurmountedbyaloopandknownascruxansata—wasadoptedandextensivelyusedonCopticChristianmonuments.Theswastika,calledcruxgammata,composedoffourGreekcapitalsofthelettergamma,ismarkedonmanyearlyChristiantombsasaveiledsymbolofthecross.ankhcrossCruxansata(ankhcross).EncyclopædiaBritannica,Inc.swastikaasgammadioncrossTheswastikawasusedinearlyChristianityasthegammadioncross,orcruxgammata;itsnameisderivedfromtheGreeklettergamma,fourcapitalsofwhichmakeupthesymbol.EncyclopædiaBritannica,Inc.BeforethetimeoftheemperorConstantineinthe4thcentury,Christianswereextremelyreticentaboutportrayingthecrossbecausetooopenadisplayofitmightexposethemtoridiculeordanger.AfterConstantineconvertedtoChristianity,heabolishedcrucifixionasadeathpenaltyandpromoted,assymbolsoftheChristianfaith,boththecrossandthechi-rhomonogramofthenameofChrist.ThesymbolsbecameimmenselypopularinChristianartandfunerarymonumentsfromc.350.stonecrossStonecrossplantedinthegrass,Eifel,Rhineland-Palatinate,Germany.AdstockRFForseveralcenturiesafterConstantine,ChristiandevotiontothecrosscentredonthevictoryofChristoverthepowersofevilanddeath,andrealisticportrayalofhissufferingwasavoided.Theearliestcrucifixes(crossescontainingarepresentationofChrist)depictChristalive,witheyesopenandarmsextended,hisGodheadmanifest,eventhoughheispiercedanddeadinhismanhood.Bythe9thcentury,however,artistsbegantostresstherealisticaspectsofChrist’ssufferinganddeath.Subsequently,WesternportrayalsoftheCrucifixion,whetherpaintedorcarved,exhibitedanincreasingfinesseinthesuggestionofpainandagony.RomanesquecrucifixesoftenshowaroyalcrownuponChrist’shead,butlaterGothictypesreplaceditwithacrownofthorns.Inthe20thcenturyanewemphasisemergedinRomanCatholicism,especiallyforcrucifixesinliturgicalsettings.Christonthecrossiscrownedandvestedasakingandpriest,andthemarksofhissufferingaremuchlessprominent.GiuntaPisano:CrucifixionCrucifixion,paintingbyGiuntaPisano,c.1250;intheBasilicaofSanDomenico,Bologna,Italy.GeorgesJansooneAfterthe16th-centuryProtestantReformation,theLutheransgenerallyretainedtheornamentalandceremonialuseofthecross.TheReformedchurches,however,resistedsuchuseofthecrossuntilthe20thcentury,whenornamentalcrossesonchurchbuildingsandoncommuniontablesbegantoappear.TheChurchofEnglandretainedtheceremonialsigningwiththecrossintheriteofbaptism.Sincethemid-19thcentury,Anglicanchurcheshavewitnessedarevivaloftheuseofthecross.Thecrucifix,however,isalmostentirelyconfinedtoprivatedevotionaluse.AnumberofProtestantchurchesandhomesdisplayanemptycross,withoutadepictionofChrist,tomemorializetheCrucifixionwhilerepresentingthetriumphantdefeatofdeathintheResurrection.SeealsoTrueCross;crucifixion.TheEditorsofEncyclopaediaBritannicaThisarticlewasmostrecentlyrevisedandupdatedbyMelissaPetruzzello.