Latin Cross

...it has been found in China and Africa. It appears on Scandinavian Bronze Age stones depicting the hammer of Thor, their god of thunder and war. It was regarded as a magical symbol. It brought good luck and diverted evil. Some people interpret rock carvings of the cross as a solar symbol, or a symbol of Earth with its points representing north, south, east, and west. Others say it represents the human form:

• the north arm - corresponds to the north wind, the most powerful, the all-conquering giant, the head and intelligence
• the south arm - the south wind, the seat of fire and passion, and of melting and burning
• the east arm - the east wind, the heart and the source of life and love
• and the west - the gentle wind from the spirit land, the dying breath and the subsequent journey into the unknown

To alchemists, the cross was a symbol of the four elements: air, earth, fire, water. Elsewhere, the cross variously symbolised health, fertility, life, immortality, the union of heaven and earth, spirit and matter, the sun, and the stars.

...it is sometimes referred to as the Western Cross to differentiate it from cross designs favoured in the east. The Latin Cross is typically used as the basic floor plan of western churches. In the East, the floor plan is typically based on the Greek Cross.

The Latin Cross can be used to represent the Trinity. The three shorter beams represent the Three Persons of the Trinity and the longer, lower portion signifies the One Divinity.

A Latin Cross, with or without a corpus, is often used as the main identification mark for a church or chapel, and sometimes this design is called a Chapel Cross or Church Cross. Cathedral crosses are usually more ornate. (See Budded Cross.)

The posh name for this most common of all crosses is Crux Immissa. This simply means a cross with a horizontal beam inserted at right-angles to the upright post. Immissa means 'inserted', and this is the more common form of the Christian cross. Another name is Crux Capitata, which means 'with a head'.

There are no universally prescribed dimensions for a cross. Some are copied from national flags and retain the flag's ratio (1:1.5, 1:1.6, 1:1.667, etc). Other designers prefer the aesthetically pleasing 'Golden Ratio' of 1:1.1618 (though this may be rejected as being too Pythagorean). In these pages, we have chosen a rather stunted ratio of 1:1.429.

There are two variations:

• crux humilis - a Low Cross, where the victim's feet were close to the ground. This was the most common form of cross; cheaper, easier to use, and also give the mob opportunity to torture the victim further. (Because of their extensive use during the Crusades, crosses have played a major role in heraldry. To suit the shape and size of shields, heraldic crosses are often shown where the height and width are equal, like the crux humilis.)
• crux sublimis - Tall Cross, where the victim was high off the ground. This would be used for people who had commanded a high rank in society.

Christian Flag, for all Christians but mainly used by Protestants. Red - the blood shed by Jesus Christ, blue - royalty of Jesus Christ as King, white - purity of Jesus Christ

The Latin Cross is sometimes referred to as the Protestant Cross, because it is a plain cross without any corpus (an image or figurine representing the body of Christ) attached to it. (See also Empty Cross.) It focuses the mind on Christ's resurrection and is mostly used in Protestant churches. When the cross includes a corpus, it is usually referred to as a crucifix. The crucifix is more often seen in Catholic, Orthodox, Coptic, high Anglican and Lutheran churches, and emphasises Christ's suffering and sacrifice.

Protestantism began by considering the corpus a prohibited graven image and idolatrous. To Catholics, who view the corpus as sacramental, this attitude would have been heretical. They use crucifixes to avoid what St. Paul warned about - that the Cross be "emptied of its power"¹. Generally today however, Protestants are not averse to using a crucifix, and Catholics are quite happy to use an unadorned cross.

...the Latin cross with its single horizontal bar, is known as a Passion Cross. (With two bars a cross is known as a Patriarchal Cross and with three bars, a Salem Cross, signifying the ultimate rank of the wearer. See also Cross and Crown.)

...the Latin Cross is seen on several national flags. It doesn't take long for patriots to take 'allegiance to the flag' literally, and the flag, with or without a cross becomes a fetish. Consider:

• - UK - the spectacular 'Trouping of the Colour' pageant in London each summer. This is a solemn religious ceremony. After new flags have been consecrated, the retiring flags are laid up in a church where another religious ceremony is held.
• - USA - the burning of the Stars and Stripes flag is considered anarchic and sacrilegious. There are serious proposals to make this a criminal offence (or offense since it would only apply in America). There is a pledge of allegiance to the flag, it has its own cross (Old Glory Cross), its own birthday (14th June), its own website (www.usflag.org), its own laws (the Flag Act), its own newspaper ('Stars and Stripes' - a soldier's rag since the American Civil War), it is saluted, raised at dawn to its own music, lowered at dusk to its own music, there are several songs (U.S. national anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner), a ceremony for folding it, and a 'funeral' ceremony for disposing of old flags.
• - Japan - In 2003, Tokyo school teachers were instructed that they must stand and respect the Japanese national flag hinomaru during enrollment and graduation ceremonies. This understandably created bad feeling amongst hundreds of teachers. The legality is debatable and even the Japanese Emperor has said that such respect cannot be forced. (See Japan Times article.)