These gold crosses are 5 inches long and 4 inches across. The ends of each arm are in the shape of a Fleur de Lis. There are 8, ¼ inch, gold glass beads circling the center of the cross. The gold beads are blown onto the cross individually The cross is made of transparent, soft gold, glass. There are thin lines of gold, highlighting the features of this beautiful cross ornament. The hanging loop consists of ¼ inch gold mesh ribbon, tied to form a 3 inch hanging loop. Select this link to view our Gold and Cream Ornaments.
History of the Cross
A cross is a geometric figure consisting of two lines or bars intersecting each other at a 90 degree angle, dividing one or two of the lines in half. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally.
The cross is one of the most ancient human symbols and is used by many religions, most notably Christianity. It is frequently a representation of the division of the world into four elements, or cardinal points
The cross is the most common symbol of Christianity. Christians believe that Jesus’ Crucifixion played a central role in redeeming humanity from its sins and regard the cross as a sing of redemption.
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During the first 300 years after Christ’s death, Christians feared persecution by the hostile Roman government and rarely displayed the cross in public. In the 300’s Romans began to tolerate Christianity and crosses were widely displayed. During the early Middle Ages, Christian artists made crosses as symbols of the Christian belief in the Resurrection of Christ. Many of these crosses portrayed the risen Christ wearing priestly clothes and royal crown. Later, Christians began to emphasize the sufferings of Jesus in Crucifixes.
Crosses have a number of uses in Christian worship. A cross on a staff is carried in many processions, during some ceremonies, members of the clergy or worshipers trace the shape of a cross with a hand or certain fingers. Cathedrals and many churches have floor plans based on the shape of the Latin cross.
The Latin cross is supposed to be the kind on which Jesus died. It has a long upright pole and a crosspiece fastened to it near the top. It has a shorter horizontal bar intersecting a longer vertical bar above the mid point.
The Greek cross has four arms of the same length. Another name for the Greek cross is the Cross of Saint George.
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The Maltese cross has eight sharp points. It was used by a certain order of knights of the Middle Ages as their emblem.
Several flags have crosses, including all the nations of Scandinavia, whose crosses are known as Scandinavian crosses and many nations in the Southern Hemisphere, which incorporate the Southern Cross. The Flag of Switzerland since the 17th century has displayed an equilateral cross in a square, the Red Cross emblem was based on the Swiss flag. The flag of Georgia displays four Jerusalem crosses on the background of St George cross.
The Crux, or Southern Cross, is a cross shaped constellation in the Southern Hemisphere.
The tallest cross, which stands 500 feet tall, is part of Francisco Franco’s monumental “Valley of the Fallen”, in Spain.
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History of the Fleur de Lis.
The Fleur de Lis is a stylized design of an iris flower. It is used both as a decoration and a symbol. It has appeared for centuries on coats of armor and flags and is particularly associated with the French monarchy. The Fleur de Lis is an enduring symbol of France, but, being regarded most notably as the emblem of the monarchy, was never officially adopted by any of the French Republics. In North America the Fleur de Lis is often linked with old French settlements such as Louisiana and Quebec.
The Fleur de Lis appears on military insignia and the logos of many organizations. During the 20th Century it was adopted by various scouting organizations worldwide for their badges. Architects and designers use it alone or as a repeated motif in a wide range of contexts from ironwork to bookbinding.
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