Cross Jewelry is probably the most popular jewelry item of all time. When choosing a cross necklace, we usually think about faith, spirituality and styling, but we don’t often put much thought into crosses that we don’t wear often. However, once we understand the cultural meaning behind them, we may want to consider wearing a new one with our outfit needs in mind.
Cross Jewelry is a Microcosm of a Culture
We all have the opportunity to wear cross pendant necklaces whether we’re Christian or not. Jewelry is a microcosm of a culture. When we understand the different forms of jewelry, the totemic patterns, and gemstones, we understand a culture to a certain extent. I was intrigued by the variety of crosses, which all seem to slightly differ in style, but whose meaning behind each one is so broad. It made me think about how these seemingly insignificant details can make such a big difference in the meaning of each cross. If you wear a cross necklace, you might be surprised to discover the depth of cultural meaning behind it.
I won’t just be giving a simple explanation about the shapes of these crosses since I care about the changes in fashion and the cultural meanings behind them. These small variations may lead to an unexpected wearing effect for your cross pendant. Lastly, I would like to mention that regardless of your religious beliefs, you should take good care of your jewelry, no matter if it’s a cross necklace or a star ring. Next, we’ll briefly look at the meaning behind several different crosses.
The Meaning of the Cross
★Latin Cross
“✝” This is a t-shaped cross. In a broad sense, the Latin Cross is basically used to represent all of Christianity and the Christian world, as Jesus sacrificed himself for mankind on the cross. Although this symbol was once a torture device, today the Latin Cross represents most Western Christian denominations.The Latin Cross Pendant is the most commonly worn type of cross compared to other cross styles.
★Inverted Cross
“⸸” This upside-down cross has many names. The most commonly heard one is probably the Cross of Saint Peter or the Petrine Cross. The origin of this inverted cross comes from a very humble story, as recorded in the Martyrdom of Peter, where Peter asked to suffer in the form of an inverted cross because he considered himself insignificant and unworthy of suffering in the form of Jesus. Thus, the inverted cross is a symbol of piety and humility.
However, as time went on, more and more people felt that it was a mystical symbol. In the book by the French occultist Elipha Levi, it’s also mentioned as a symbol of Satan. You may have often seen its appearance in popular art, most often in horror films. As a result, the inverted cross has become a symbol of occult culture and rebellion.
Picture from : https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=363489
★Jerusalem Cross
“☩” The Jerusalem Cross is made up of a large central cross and four smaller Greek crosses. It has several names, also called the “five-fold Cross” or “cross-and-crosslets,” which you may have seen before without really understanding the meaning behind it. There are many symbolic meanings to the five-fold Cross, the most representative of which is that it represents the five wounds of Christ, an expression that dates back to the 11th century.
It’s also been seen numerous times throughout history as a distinctive heraldic design, usually on shields, coats or armor. It appeared on the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and is mentioned in the 14th century Book of All Kingdoms as the flag of Sebasteia, the flag used by Peter the Great when he sailed the White Sea in 1693. It’s a heraldic variation of the cross.
Picture from : https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=107995236
★Russian Orthodox Cross
“☦” This is a very distinctive cross, and at a glance you can see the obvious difference. The Russian Orthodox Cross is a variation of the Russian Christian cross from the 16th century. It was first used on the dome of a church by Ivan the Terrible, the Grand Prince of Moscow, in 1551, after which it began to appear on Russia’s coat of arms and military banners as a kind of heraldic cross.
As the name suggests, the symbol is derived from the Eastern Orthodox Church tradition. Unlike the Latin Cross, which is often used in the West, this cross is made up of three bars of different lengths, one at the top and one at the bottom, and the top bar represents the charges attached to the crucifixion of Jesus.
Picture from : https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54990816
★Greek Cross
“✚” The Greek cross is the basic form of most crosses, and many variations come from this shape. It has equal lengths on both sides and looks like a square structure. The Latin Cross is a very Jesus-like cross that reminds us of the story of his crucifixion. Yet the meanings of the Greek Cross and Latin Cross is completely different. The Greek Cross is a symbol of the Gospel spreading throughout the world, reaching to the far North, South, East and West, as well as the four Platonic elements. It’s also known as the Tetrad and is considered a sacred symbol of the Pythagoreans, representing the four essentials of nature: air, fire, water, and earth, and by extension, the harmony of the universe.
★Celtic Cross
The Celtic Cross is an easily identifiable cross. To be brief, it’s two symbols overlapping each other – a cross with a circle at the intersection. It is said that St. Patrick combined the Sun Cross and the Latin Cross to convey the meaning of the cross and life. The Celtic Cross is usually carved out of stone, and there are some famous monuments still standing, such as the high crosses in the Monasterboice ruins and cross monuments across Ireland.
Picture from :[[File:Sant Saeran Llanynys Sir Ddinbych Denbighshire North Wales 09.JPG|thumb|High Cross in Llanynys, North Wales]]
★Ankh Cross
“☥” The Ankh Cross is a very common cross and its appearance is very prominent. Its special feature, which can usually be remembered at a glance, is the circular top of the cross, much like a human symbol. Its origins date back to the 30th-29th centuries B.C. and it has an extremely long history. It is commonly found in Egyptian hieroglyphs, where it was interpreted as a symbol of life, and so some ancient Egyptian gods would hold this symbol and cross their arms over their chests, thus representing life and power, where it became a symbol of eternity in ancient Egypt. With this in mind, we can understand why this cross is so popular.
Picture from : https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77755045
★Chi-Rho Cross
“☧” The Chi-Rho symbol has a long history, appearing on a sarcophagus from the 4th century AD and is currently on display in the Vatican Museums. A wreath is used around the Chi-Rho symbol to signify eternal life and the triumph of resurrection over death. This is one of the oldest figures in Christianity. The Chi-Rho (☧) is formed by superimposing the Greek letters chi (Χ) and rho (Ρ). It’s said that the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, Constantine, claimed to have seen the sight of a cross near a crossroads and that the symbol had brought victory to his army, so he later had it painted on all his soldiers’ shields. And so, the Chi-Rho symbol is also known as the Chi-Rho Cross.
Picture from : https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29889493
★Tau Cross
This cross has a T-shaped form and is called the TAU CROSS because its shape resembles the Greek letter “tau.” It’s also known by some very different names. You can call it the Egyptian cross, but most people call it Saint Anthony’s cross or the Saint Anthony cross. Saint Anthony was an Egyptian Christian saint who used to carry a T-shaped cane in his hand, and so over time, the T-shaped cross became associated with him. In the 14th century, the Order of Saint Anthony built 350 hospitals in Europe and contributed greatly to society, which naturally utilized this symbol. This cross appears very frequently in history which making it a very common cross.
Picture from : https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15295547
★Maltese Cross (Eight Pointed Cross)
“✠” The Maltese cross is a cross that looks like a combination of four arrow signs, with the two sharp corners pointing outward and the four arrow symbols leaning toward the center. The eight-pointed shape is said to have first appeared on coins dating back to the 11th century in the towns of southern Italy. It’s also a kind of heraldic cross. The Maltese Cross is found on many coins, and it’s also related to the Order of St. John, the Polish Order of the White Eagle, the Prussian order Pour le Mérite and so on, giving this cross a lot of cultural personality.
Picture from : https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10367294
Cross Necklace Guide
ICEHIPHOP has many men’s cross necklaces and there’s definitely one that’s meant for you. The cross necklace for men emphasizes a matching effect. Just on color choice alone, if you want to create a high quality, low-profile effect you can select a silver cross necklace; if you want to show off a luxurious style, go with a gold cross necklace. This may be more up to personal taste. Regardless, whether you wear it alone or in multiple layers, you can show off your style, and we suggest that you try pairing your main cross with different chains and crosses to create a completely different effect. This is our list of the 10 most popular crosses and we hope it’ll be helpful to you in selecting a cross that suits you both in spirit and style. If there’s any missing or incorrect information, please feel free to email us and we’ll try to correct it.→ICEHIPHOP SHOP→ https://www.icedouthiphop.com/cross-ankh/
Jewelry Designer: Liliana