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RUCIFIX OF CHRIST NOT TRUE CROSS 299

This equal-limbed Cross, when used as a sacred’sceptre in the hands of the Sun-god or his priest-king (or in the hands of Barati, see Fig. 16, p.57), or when erected for adoration, was elongated by the addition of a stem or pedestal—this is seen in the most archaic Sumerian seals of the fifth millennium B.c., and also found in the ruins of ancient Troy, where sometimes this elongated Cross is pictured springing from the rayed Sun (see Fig. 46, H). This now discloses the origin of the common form of the True Cross in Christianity now current in Western Europe and usually called ‘‘ The Roman or Latin Cross"’ and adopted for the Crucifix of Christ, which, however, we shall see was of quite a different shape.

Now arises the question of the relationship of these long antecedent pre-Christian sacred Aryan Sun-Crosses to the “ True ’’ Cross in Christianity, where it is now used as the Crucifix. When we examine the history of the Cross and Crucifix in Christianity, what do we find ?

The Crucifix of Christ was of quite a different shape from the True Cross, which, indeed, never appears to have been used as a crucifix in ancient times. The historical Crucifix of Christ is figured and described in Early Christianity as of the shape of a T,1 the so-called ‘‘ St. Anthony’s Cross”’ ; and it occurs extremely rarely in Early Christianity,* because the crucifix was not a recognized Christian symbol of the Early Christians. Thus no mention whatever is made of it, or of any cross, by St. Clement of Alexandria (d. 211 A.D.) in specifying the emblems which Christians should wear.* The reason for this omission is generally admitted by our ecclesiastical writers to be that the Early Christians were ashamed of the Crucifix on account of it being a malefactor’s

2F.C.A., 23,25. The“ Cross’ of the Jews mentioned in Ezekiel 9, 4—6, is eae “the T Cross,” and this is the form of the Cross used by Jews as a charm against snake-bite, and by others against erysipelas or “ St. Anthony's Fire.’”

* For Christ's Crucifix as T-shaped cross, see second-century jewel figured by Farrar (F.C.A., 48); and on third-century tomb of Irene in Callixtine cemetery (F.C.A., 25). It is also thus figured on Early Christian tombs in Britain, ed. $.S.5., 1 pl. 28, in upper register of face of Nigg Cross, Ross-shire (along with old solar symbols) and in S.S.S., 2, Pl. 52, at WKirkapoll, Argyle.

'Clement Pedagagus, 3, 11, 59 and F.C.A,, 7.