The Crusades were religious wars between the Muslims and Christians that spanned over 250 years. The goal for the Muslims was to keep Jerusalem, while the Christians wanted to capture it in order to restore and purify it. The Jerusalem Cross, also known as the Crusader's Cross, became the main symbol for Christians during "Europe's biggest folly".
The Cross, which consists of a large cross in the center surrounded by four small crosses in each quadrant, is a Christian symbol that represents many things. Firstly, it represents the Five Wounds of Christ, with the four small crosses defining his feet and hands, while the big cross represents Jesus' pierced heart. Secondly, it also portrays Christ and the four corners of the world, which in turn represents the spreading of Christianity throughout the world. Finally, it also alludes to Christ and the Four Evangelists , namely Matthew, Mark, John, and Luke.
The cross was first worn as a coat of arms by French knight Godefrey de Bouillon during the First Crusade (1096-9), which resulted in the capturing in Jerusalem in 1099. De Bouillon believed that the cross symbolized Jesus and the holy land of Jerusalem, the latter being the root of Christianity. The Crusaders started wearing the Cross on their backs.
The Crusader's cross continued to be used after the Crusades. For example, it was used on the flag of Sebasteia in the 14th century "Book of All Kingdom". Furthermore, it was also seen on the flag of Tbilisi on the Pizzigano chart in the 14th century as well. Lastly, the cross was adopted on the flag of Georgia in 2004.
Sources
"Jerusalem's Cross." Wikipedia, 2015. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_cross
Smith, Kevin. "The History and Significance of the Jerusalem Cross." Catholic Faith Store, 2015. http://blog.catholicfaithstore.com/blog/2015/04/12/history-significance-jerusalem-cross/
The Cross, which consists of a large cross in the center surrounded by four small crosses in each quadrant, is a Christian symbol that represents many things. Firstly, it represents the Five Wounds of Christ, with the four small crosses defining his feet and hands, while the big cross represents Jesus' pierced heart. Secondly, it also portrays Christ and the four corners of the world, which in turn represents the spreading of Christianity throughout the world. Finally, it also alludes to Christ and the Four Evangelists , namely Matthew, Mark, John, and Luke.
The cross was first worn as a coat of arms by French knight Godefrey de Bouillon during the First Crusade (1096-9), which resulted in the capturing in Jerusalem in 1099. De Bouillon believed that the cross symbolized Jesus and the holy land of Jerusalem, the latter being the root of Christianity. The Crusaders started wearing the Cross on their backs.
The Crusader's cross continued to be used after the Crusades. For example, it was used on the flag of Sebasteia in the 14th century "Book of All Kingdom". Furthermore, it was also seen on the flag of Tbilisi on the Pizzigano chart in the 14th century as well. Lastly, the cross was adopted on the flag of Georgia in 2004.
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| Godefrey de Bouillon |
"Jerusalem's Cross." Wikipedia, 2015. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_cross
Smith, Kevin. "The History and Significance of the Jerusalem Cross." Catholic Faith Store, 2015. http://blog.catholicfaithstore.com/blog/2015/04/12/history-significance-jerusalem-cross/
Great post! I had always seen this cross, but I didn't really think much about it or didn't know what it meant. The meaning is very interesting, so thanks for enlightening me!
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ReplyDeleteWish I could post a photo here Blogspot! Thanks for getting me to check out the Georgian flag.
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I always thought that the cross were there just to look cool I never really thought they had any meaning. Good Post!
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