Christianity appears in a wide variety of forms, perhaps the most prominent today being Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. At its inception, Christianity was an amalgam of Judaism and the Graeco-Roman religion, taking its name from Jesus of Nazareth who was regarded by some as the “Chosen One,” or “Anointed One”; the Christ, of God (from the Greek Christos).
As the Christian Church has grown and spread over the past two thousand years, it has incorporated a vast number of symbols, some of which have, like many other aspects of the religion, been adopted from earlier Pagan uses. The most prominent symbol is the cross. Although devout Christians revere the cross, most are unaware that it is actually an ancient symbol that has long been venerated by a wide variety of Pagans. Early examples of crosses were used by the ancient Assyrians and the Sumerians. Most such early examples were equal-armed crosses and represented the sun. Equal-armed crosses within circles similarly represented the sun. The cross can also be seen to represent the four seasons, though this would seem to be a later symbolism. A variation of the cross is the swastika (also known as the gammadion, the tetraskelion, the fylfot, and the cross cramponnée), a cross with extended, bent arms.
The cross was not used openly as a symbol of Christianity until the fourth century c.e., by which time the faith had become the official religion of the Roman Empire. In medieval art, the cross on which Jesus was crucified is often depicted as a tree. The most common form of the cross—with the extended lower leg—is known as the crux capitata. The cross has also been shown to be T-shaped (the crux commissa) or even X-shaped (the crux decussata).
The fifth century brought a popular form of the cross known as the monogrammatic cross, since it was a modification of a monogram made up of the two Greek letters Chi and Rho, the first two letters of Christos.
One form of the cross has two cross pieces. The second, smaller piece symbolizes the scroll bearing Jesus’ name that was nailed to the cross of crucifixion. Occasionally a third, even smaller cross piece is added to represent the foot board.
Crosses and Variations
Celtic Cross
Coptic Cross
Crosses and Variations (continued)
Cramponnée Cross
Croissantée Cross
Cross of Lorraine
Crosslet Cross
Crux Décussata
Eastern Cross
Fichée Cross
Fitchée Cross
Crosses and Variations (continued)
Fretée Cross
Jerusalem Cross
Maltese Cross
Papal Cross
Monograms of Christ (i)
Monograms of Christ (ii)
Fish (vesica piscis)
The fish, as a Christian symbol, was again taken from Paganism. The son of the sea goddess Atargatis (also known as Aphrodite, Delphine, Derceto, Pelagia, and Tirgata) was Ichthys, which is also the Greek word for “fish.” At some point it was suggested that ichthys was an acronym for “Jesus Christ, Son of God,” and the fish became a Christian symbol. Ichthys was also the name of the fish that swallowed Osiris’ penis, and is generally associated with female genital symbolism.
Key
The key is accepted, in Christianity, as representing St. Peter. It is, in effect, the key to the door into the Christian heaven. The idea is based on the Pagan goddess Persephone, who possessed the key to Hades, the afterlife.
Orb
The orb, a symbol of the earth, in Christianity is usually presented surmounted by a cross, symbolizing the Church’s domination of the earth.
Tau
Star of Bethlehem
The so-called Star of Bethlehem is no more than the Pagan pentagram, symbolizing the life force.
Eight-Pointed Star of Regeneration
Holy Spirit
Ten Disciples of Jesus
Twelve Tribes of Israel