Three Crosses

A 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... more

by Lisa Wooten

Title

Three Crosses

Artist

Lisa Wooten

Medium

Photograph

Description

A 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 obliquely, the design is technically termed a saltire, although the arms of a saltire need not meet at right angles.

The cross is 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 (Chevalier, 1997) or cardinal points, or alternately as the union of the concepts of divinity, the vertical line, and the world, the horizontal line. Due to the simplicity of the design (two crossing 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.

Prior to 2000 B.C. the cross symbol, �, was already in use in ancient alphabets (Paleo-Hebrew [✗], Canaanite, Phoenician) as the letter 'Tau' ('Taw'/'Tav') which corresponds to the modern letter 'T' and meant 'Mark' (Its literal usage in the Torah denotes a wound). It is probably derived from two sticks crossed to mark a place similar to the Egyptian hieroglyph.[1]

Use of the cross as a Christian symbol may be as early as the 1st century, and is certain for the 3rd century.[2] A wide variation of cross symbols is introduced for the purposes of heraldry beginning in the age of the Crusades.[3]

The earliest depiction of the cross as a christian symbol may be as early as 200 A.D. when it was used to mock the faith in the Alexamenos graffito. Wikipedia

Uploaded

July 10th, 2015