Cross

The cross is a symbol used around the world, which has particular cultural and religious significance.

History

Even in the early days of humanity, the cross was a cult object, as we know from archaeological finds. The use of the cross goes back to the Stone Age, in European cult caves provide crosses often the oldest rock carvings dar. It is believed generally in the representation of four interconnected, opposite cardinal points, a religious world formula.

Symbolism

A cross in its geometric components - a vertical and a horizontal line - explains the emergence of the importance of this ancient symbol: The horizontal line represents the earth as the vertical line can point to the sky. The connection of the two lines to form a cross so symbolizes the uniform connection of heaven and earth. In addition, a cross is divided into four parts. Thus, it would be a circle, which symbolizes completeness, divide into four equal circular sectors (see crossing ). Therefore, the cross stands for the four directions north, south, west and east: in ancient Egypt it was said that four pillars support the vault of heaven.

Combining the two modes of interpretation, there is a spatial cross, a three-dimensional coordinate system, which symbolizes all be experienced by the people of the compass and so the universe. This may be the thought of the first people in the discovery of six different directions and the Cross have been: no wonder that a cross which represents all the directions of the ways symbolic, the treading a person in his life, such a religious significance was given. Finally, every living here would proceed "down" on the earth times to the north, south, east, west and go in the end "up " into the sky.

The cross can also serve as proof of the nautical and astronomical knowledge of our ancestors. It is more than likely that it must have served as a tool for astronomical observation (see Nautical triangle). This explains, for example, the Wheel of Taranis, which must have been clearly astronomical significance as " sun " and symbol of the (annual ) time; such knowledge at the time of the gods was attributed. Already about 3000 years ago the Sumerians recognized the ecliptic of Earth and the solstice. The construction of the Babylonian ziggurat whose square floor plan is quartered by a diagonal cross into triangles, where each level of the pyramid represents one of the planets of our solar system, requires knowledge of astronomy, mathematics, and especially the knowledge of the compass. And a pyramid is nothing more than the spatial interpretation of a two-dimensional cross, the intersection of the cross is extruded into the air and points to heaven. If now, in addition to the area of ​​the square pyramid can have a second direction earth mirrored at this pyramid, there is an octahedron whose symmetry axes and edges again form spatial crosses. Logic dictates, therefore, that the builders of the Great Pyramid of Cheops, the principle of the inverted pyramid, must have already known precisely because of this powerful religious cross symbols and their astronomical significance of the shape of the octahedron. This explains why a sacred number of time and the degree of the sun was to the Egyptians the four, which is why we even now know four seasons and not two; Summer and winter. It explains why the Buddhists believe in the Four Noble Truths, whose symbol again is the wheel or a cross, which also may well come astrological significance in Brahmanical rituals. In Christian symbolism, one also speaks of the four Gospels, the four apocalyptic horsemen and the four Evangelists, because the four is the symbol of the cross.

Crosses in Christianity

In Christianity, the vertical bar symbolizes the relationship between God and man. The horizontal bar of the cross links the relationship between people. Today the Cross is especially common as a sign of Christianity and was 431 officially introduced by the Council of Ephesus as a Christian symbol. The symbol is derived from the crucifixion of Christ and is closely associated in Christian theology with the theme guilt and atonement. In addition, the cross has a strong use as a symbol that is usually associated with death. Thus, a cross before a date ( for example, * 02.03.1735, † 31.03.1817 ) indicate the date of death of a person. Furthermore, the cross can be seen as a metaphor for a burden (including illness or disability ) that a person has to deal with in life, to be understood. Interpreted positive is the symbol for peace and salvation in the Christian religion.

The symbol with the hanging on a cross, Jesus called crucifix.

Examples of crosses in a Christian context:

• Christian cross and derived from: Latin Cross, St. Peter's Cross, Jerusalem Cross, Celtic Cross, Cross of Christ, crucifix, Maltese Cross / Cross of St. John, Knights Templar Cross, Black Cross of the Teutonic Order, patriarchal cross
• A consecration cross to the consecration of the church - at several points distributed in the nave
• The summit cross on mountains
• In the genealogy (derived from the grave cross) the symbol for death or the date of death († ), see Genealogical characters
• Cross column
• Icon of various charities, such as White Cross, Red Cross, Green Cross, Blue Cross, Black Cross
• The symbol of various national flags, see Andrew's Cross, George Cross, Scandinavian Cross, Swiss cross
• A medal ( award ), such as Iron Cross

The largest cross in the world is part of the Monumento Nacional de Santa Cruz del Valle de los Caídos.

Other crosses

Many crosses are as common figure or as a herald image in heraldry in use (see cross). They also have special names that are not always known in everyday life here. The crosses are often presented in two forms in heraldry: the basic form and when the lower arm is shown differing sharply formed from the other arms of the cross, the cross is tipped a cross or a pointed cross. Many crosses are named after the shape of the cross- arms and heraldic inventions, such as the pine cross. This has arisen from the same coat of arms cut and very rarely in use ( Hunding ( Lower Bavaria ), Schlaiten (Tirol ), Kuusamo (Finland ) ).

Furthermore, we find the cross

• In typography as a character that often indicates a corrupted or hard to read text from in scientific issues, see Cross ( characters )
• In the form of three crosses as a substitute form of the signature, which must be certified by a notary
• In mathematics as a plus sign for addition and for 45 ° tilted ( × ) as a sign of the cross product

Crosses in art

Even in the presence of the cross plays a role as an artwork. Thus the artist Hermann Bigelmayr with the artwork "The Cross of nowhere " a central orientation symbol on the non-denominational cemetery has created. When the viewer goes into the large-scale sculpture, he recognizes in the spaces between them the Christian cross. At the same time the sculpture but is open to all four directions, symbolizing all the religions in the world. Due to the non-denominational approach the artwork discussion material for political and religious debates in Bavaria has been widely.