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Cross Name

Description

Picture

Ankh

Also known as the Key of the Nile, the Looped Tau Cross, and the Ansated Cross. It was an Ancient Egyptian symbol of life. Sometimes given a Latin name if it appears in specifically Christian contexts, such as the crux ansata ("handled cross"). Shaped like the letter T surmounted by an oval or circle. Originally the Egyptian symbol for "life," it was adopted by the Copts (Egyptian Christians). Also called a crux ansata, meaning "cross with a handle."

Canterbury cross

Used in the Anglican Churches. It has four arms of equal length, each widening at the outer end in a hammer shape so that their rims form a near circle. Each arm bears a triangular panel incised with a triquetra symbolizing the Trinity. In the center of the cross is a small square. The Saxon original dates from c. 850 C.E. and was excavated in 1867, in Canterbury, England. A stone replica can be found in Canterbury Cathedral and in several other Anglican cathedrals around the world. Canterbury cross. A cross with four arms of equal length which widen to a hammer shape at the outside ends. Each arm has a triangular panel inscribed in a triquetra (three-cornered knot) pattern. There is a small square panel in the center of the cross. A symbol of the Anglican and Episcopal Churches.

Christian cross

Also known as the Latin cross or crux ordinaria. It is the most common symbol of Christianity, intended to represent the redeeming martyrdom of Jesus when he was crucified on the True Cross in the New Testament.

Coptic Cross

A small circle from which emanate four arms of equal length, with angled T shapes in the corner, cross-pieces outward, representing the nails used in Jesus' crucifixion. This cross receives its name from Coptic Christianity, which centered around Alexandria, Egypt.

Original Coptic Cross

The original Coptic cross used by early Gnostic Christians in Egypt.

Coptic ankh

The Coptic ankh is the Ankh related pre Original Coptic cross of the early Gnostic Christians in Egypt.

Greek cross

Also known as the crux immissa quadrata. Has all arms of equal length.

Eastern cross

Used in the Eastern Orthodox Church. The top line is said to represent the headboard, and the bottom, slanted line represents the footrest, wrenched loose by Jesus' writhing in intense agony. The letters IC XC found at the end of the main arm of most Eastern Orthodox Crosses are a Christogram, representing the name of Jesus Christ.

High cross

Free-standing Celtic crosses commonly found in Ireland and to a lesser extent in Great Britain, very common in churches and graveyards.

St. Brigid's Cross

This cross is found throughout Ireland. It is told that the cross was made by Brigid, daughter of a Pagan King from reeds to be used as an instrument of conversion. However, Brigid's name is derived from Brigit (also spelled Brigid, Brìghde, Brìde, and Bríde), a Celtic Goddess of fire, poetry, and smithcraft, and today the cross is used to protect houses from fire. This is an example of the integration of religious traditions. The cross itself derives from the Indo-European Swastika, or Solar Wheel

Labarum

Constantine I's Labarum is also known as a Chrismon, Chi-Rho (from the two Greek letters that make it up), or a monogram of the name Jesus Christ. Several other forms of Chrismons exist.

Lebanese Forces Cross

Inspired from the eastern crosses, it symbolizes three things:

1. The cross of the savior Jesus Christ in red, the sign of martyrdom and glory.

2. The bearing cross of the Lebanese Christians, the sign of their suffering throughout history.

3. The diagonal cut at the base of the cross symbolizes the strength of the Lebanese Christians’ will, and their determination to keep the cross planted in their region of the world.

Lorraine Cross

Used in heraldry. It is similar to a patriarchal cross, but usually has one bar near the bottom and one near the top, rather than having both near the top. Is part of the heraldic arms of Lorraine in eastern France. It was originally held to be a symbol of Joan of Arc, renowned for her perseverance against foreign invaders of France.

Marian Cross

Etched on the casket of Pope John Paul II, the Marian Cross is a Catholic adaptation of the traditional Latin cross to emphasize Catholic devotion to Mary.

Nordic Cross

Used in flags descended from the Dannebrog.

Occitan cross

Based on the counts of Toulouse's traditional coat of arms, it soon became the symbol of Occitania as a whole.

Papal Cross

The three cross-bars represent the Roman Catholic Pope's triple role as Bishop of Rome, Patriarch of the West, and successor of St. Peter, Chief of the Apostles.

Patriarchal cross

Similar to a traditional Christian cross, but with an additional, smaller crossbar above the main one meant to represent all the Orthodox Christian Archbishops and Patriarchs. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, this cross is sometimes seen with an additional, slanted bar near the foot of the cross (see Byzantine Cross). This cross is similar to the Lorraine Cross and the Caravaca Cross.

Presbyterian Cross

Used by Presbyterian denominations.

Red Cross

Used as a symbol for medical care in most of the world, the Red Crescent being used in Islamic countries and the Magen David Adom in Israel.

Cross of Sacrifice

A Latin cross with a superimposed sword, blade down. It is a symbol used by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at the site of many war memorials.

Royal Flag of Georgia

Used in Georgia as national flag, first used by Georgian King Vakhtang Gorgasali in the fifth century and later adopted by Queen Tamar of Georgia in the 13th century. The flag depicts a Jerusalem cross, adopted during the reign of George V of Georgia who drove out the Mongols from Georgia in 1334.

St. Nino's Cross

Also known as a "Grapevine cross" and traditionally ascribed to Saint Nino, the fourth century female baptizer of the Georgians, it is used as a symbol of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

Saint Andrew's Cross

Used in Scotland's national flag and the naval ensign of the Russian Navy, it is also called the Saltire, the Boundary Cross (because it was used by the Romans as a barrier) and the crux decussata. Saint Andrew is believed to have suffered a martyr's death on such a cross, hence its name. The cross does not have to be at this particular angle to qualify as a saltire; the symbol X can also be considered a St. Andrew's Cross. Saltire or crux decussata. An X-shaped cross associated with St. Andrew, patron of Scotland, and so a national symbol of that country. The shape is that of the cross on which Saint Andrew is said to have been martyred. Also known as St. Andrew's Cross or Andrew Cross.

St George's Cross

Used in England's national flag.

Saint Peter's Cross

An upside-down Latin cross, based on a tradition that holds that Saint Peter was martyred by being crucified upside-down. Today it is often associated with anti-Christian or Satanic groups and some heavy metal artists, such as King Diamond.

Skull and crossbones

Not a cross as such, but a saltire made of bones, with an overlaid skull. While traditionally associated with pirates, it was actually relatively rarely used by them, each ship having its own design, often involving an hourglass.

Sun cross

Also known as the Sunwheel, solar cross, or Odin's cross, because Odin's symbol in Norse mythology was a cross in a circle. Used throughout Native American culture to represent the great Medicine Wheel of life.

Tau Cross

Also known as Saint Anthony's Cross, the Egyptian Cross, and the crux commissa. It is shaped like the letter T. Francis of Assisiused it as his signature.

Thieves' Cross

Also known as the Furka Cross. The fork, shaped like the letter Y.

Mariner's Cross

The Mariner's Cross is a stylized cross in the shape of an anchor. The Mariner's Cross is also referred to as St. Clement's Cross in reference to the way he was martyred.

Order of Christ Cross

Cross originally used by the Portuguese Order of Christ. Since then it has become a symbol of Portugal, used on the sails of the carracks during the Discoveries Era, and currently by the Portuguese Air Force.

Cross name

Description

Picture

The cross as heraldic "ordinary"

A simple heraldic cross (the default if there are no additional specifying words) has arms of roughly equal length, artistically proportioned to the particular shape of the shield, which extend to the edges of the shield. Illustrated is the blazon "Azure, a cross Or" (that is, a gold cross on a blue shield).

A cross which does not extend to the edges of the shield is humetty, in heraldic terminology.

Cross anchry

A stylized cross in the shape of an anchor. Also known as the anchored cross or mariner's cross.

Cross barbée

Also known as the cross barby or arrow cross, this symbol consists of two double-ended arrows in a cross configuration. Best known today for its use by the fascistArrow Cross Party in the 1930s, the symbol actually dates to ancient times and was used by Hungarian tribes in the Middle Ages. In Christian use, the ends of this cross resemble the barbs of fish hooks, or fish spears. This alludes to the Ichthys symbol of Christ, and is suggestive of the "fishers of men" theme in the Gospel.

Cross bottony

A cross with the ends of the arms bottony (or botonny), that is, shaped like an architectural trefoil. It occurs counterchanged on the flag of Maryland.

Cross cercelée

A cross which, opening at the ends, turns round both ways, like a ram's horns.

Cross crosslet

A cross with the ends of each arm crossed.

Crusaders' cross

Also known as the Jerusalem cross. This cross was the symbol of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, which existed for almost two hundred years after the First Crusade. The four smaller crosses are said to symbolize either the four books of the Gospel or the four directions in which the Word of Christ spread from Jerusalem. Alternately, all five crosses can symbolize the five wounds of Christ during the Passion. This symbol is also used in the flag of Georgia.

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Cross flory

A cross with the ends of the arms flory (or fleury), having a shape like a fleur-de-lys.

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Cross fourchee

One form of the heraldic cross fourchee (fourchée, fourchy) or cross fourche (meaning "forked").

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Cross fylfot

Upright cross with truncated bent arms

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Jerusalem cross

A variant of the Crusaders' cross with cross potent. It is also the logo for the Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem.

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Maltese cross

With arms which narrow towards the center, and are indented at the ends. The "eight-pointed cross" (with no curved lines).

Cross moline

In a cross moline, the ends of the arms are split and curved back.

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Cross patonce

A cross patonce is more or less intermediate between a cross pattée and a cross flory (or fleury).

Cross pattée

A cross pattee (pattée, patty) has arms narrowing towards the centre, but with non-indented ends. See also Iron Cross.

Cross pommee

A cross pommee (pommée, pommy) has a circular knob at the end of each arm.

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Cross potent

This cross has a crossbar at the end of each of its arms. "Potent" is an old word for a crutch, and is used in heraldic terminology to describe a T shape.

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Quadrate

A cross with a square at the intersection point.

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Cross triple parted and fretted

In heraldry, a "cross triple parted and fretted" (or "treble parted and fretted") is interlaced. Here, a version which is "Or on an Azure field" (gold on blue) is shown.

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Cross voided

A "cross voided throughout," also known as the Gammadia, can be seen as a Greek cross with its center lines removed, or as composed of four angles (L shapes) separated by a thin space. So the name "gammadia" refers to its being made up of four shapes similar to a capital Greek letter gamma; the word gammadion can also refer to a swastika.

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Cross of St James

The Cross of St. James,, similar to a Cross Flory Fitch, is formed by a Cross Flory, where the lower part is fashioned as a sword blade (fitched)—making this a cross of a warrior. It is most frequently depicted in red. (The version depicted here is the one used by the order of Santiago.)