Cross & Crucifix

Cross & Crucifix

The ‘christian’ crucifix derives from the Latin cruciare, meaning ‘to torture’, as does the word crucifix.  As Christ’s crucifixion was not about remembering His torture but rather a crossroad for Him to be resurrected, granting us eternal life.  I feel it important to delve into the various origins and meanings of the ‘cross’.

The equal length cross, as the one seen as a sacred emblem to Aphrodite, was originated in Greece, and was used ever since, especially to denote the four elements, Fire, Air, Water, Earth.  Later the cross came into being to denote direction, north, south, east, west, and thereby indicating wind.

Pentacles and Serpents

Pentacles and Serpents

I photographed this wonderful statue of
 St Mary and Jesus in Heidelberg, Germany.

Pentacles:  In etymology, the word pentagram derives from the Greek word,' pentagrammon', as 'pente' translates to five, and' gramme' means line, thereby the five lined star.  Babylonians and Pythagoreans of ancient Greece wore these amulets as essential religious symbols.  
There is often mass confusion between a pentacle and a pentagram.  When placing a pentagram within a disc or encircling it, the pentagram becomes a pentacle, and then considered as sacred, or magical.  The circle then represents the encompassing circle of life, and the five points refer to the elements being, earth, air, fire, water, and the fifth being ether, or space.