Content Starts Here
cross
Encyclopaedia Search
Cross
'});)
Click image to enlarge
Figure or object formed by the intersection (usually at right angles) of two or more lines, surfaces, or pieces of material. The use of the cross as an emblem is of great antiquity in many cultures. The symbol of the cross has been widely used since the 3rd century in Christianity as a reminder of Jesus' crucifixion. The empty cross (as opposed to the crucifix) emphasizes the idea of Jesus' resurrection from the dead.
The Latin cross is the most commonly used; other types are the Greek cross, St Anthony's cross, and St Andrew's cross. Symbolic crosses were used by pre-Christian cultures; for example, the ancient Egyptian ankh (St Anthony's cross with a loop at the top) was a symbol of life, and the swastika was used by Hindus, Buddhists, Celts, and North American Indians before it was adopted by the Nazis. In pre-Columbian America, the cross was the symbol of the rain god; in ancient Gaul it represented the sun.
© Research Machines plc 2008. All rights reserved. Helicon Publishing is a division of Research Machines plc.
Advertisement starts
Advertisement ends
Related Links
Côte d'Ivoire Flag
Orange stands for the savannah. White symbolizes the country's rivers. Green represents the forests. Effective date: 3 December 1959.
>>
Advertorial
Find out how to buy the things you've always wanted and sell the things you don't on ebay.
Advertisement starts
Advertisement ends
Page Footer
Access keys
You will need to use different key combinations in order to use access keys depending on your internet browser, find out which on our accessibility page.
- (0) Navigate to Accessibility page.
- (1) Navigate to Home page.
- (2) Navigate to My email.
- (3) Navigate to My Account.
- (4) Navigate to Site Map page.
- (5) Navigate to Contact us page.
- (6) Navigate to Members channel.
- (7) Navigate to Services channel.
- (8) Navigate to News & Info channel.
- (9) Navigate to Entertainment channel.
- ([) Skip down to the Primary navigation block.
- (]) Skip down to the more links within this section block.
- (=) Bypass all navigation and jump to the content.
- (x) Text only version of this page.
