Jerusalem cross
Encyclopedia
The Jerusalem cross, also known as Crusaders' cross, is a heraldic
cross
or Christian
symbol
consisting of a large Greek cross surrounded by four smaller Greek crosses, one in each quadrant.
The simpler form of the cross is known as the "Crusaders' Cross", because it was on the papal banner
given to the Crusaders
by Pope Urban II
for the First Crusade
, and became a symbol of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem
. It was first worn by Godfrey of Bouillon
, the first leader of the Kingdom. The four smaller crosses are said to symbolize either the four books of the Gospel
or the four directions
in which the Word of Christ spread from Jerusalem. Alternatively, all five crosses can symbolize the five wounds
of Christ during the Passion
, the Pentateuch and, presumably, the first five Christian Churches.
Its origin may come from Phoenicia
, in the shape of a white, sometimes green, eight-pointed cross, known as Maltese Cross
, each point representing a Beatitude, as the Venerable Order of St John teaches.
The Jerusalem Cross is also used in the flag of Georgia
. And as a symbol of the Catholic Kairos retreat, where participants are given the pendant at the end of their experience.
character set has a character , U+2629 CROSS OF JERUSALEM in the Miscellaneous Symbols
table. However, the glyph associated with that character is a cross potent
, and not a Jerusalem cross.
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
cross
Christian cross
The Christian cross, seen as a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, is the best-known religious symbol of Christianity...
or Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
symbol
Symbol
A symbol is something which represents an idea, a physical entity or a process but is distinct from it. The purpose of a symbol is to communicate meaning. For example, a red octagon may be a symbol for "STOP". On a map, a picture of a tent might represent a campsite. Numerals are symbols for...
consisting of a large Greek cross surrounded by four smaller Greek crosses, one in each quadrant.
Banner
A banner is a flag or other piece of cloth bearing a symbol, logo, slogan or other message. Banner-making is an ancient craft.The word derives from late Latin bandum, a cloth out of which a flag is made...
given to the Crusaders
Crusaders
The Crusaders are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Christchurch that competes in the Super Rugby competition. They are the most successful team in Super Rugby history with seven titles...
by Pope Urban II
Pope Urban II
Pope Urban II , born Otho de Lagery , was Pope from 12 March 1088 until his death on July 29 1099...
for the First Crusade
First Crusade
The First Crusade was a military expedition by Western Christianity to regain the Holy Lands taken in the Muslim conquest of the Levant, ultimately resulting in the recapture of Jerusalem...
, and became a symbol of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem
Kingdom of Jerusalem
The Kingdom of Jerusalem was a Catholic kingdom established in the Levant in 1099 after the First Crusade. The kingdom lasted nearly two hundred years, from 1099 until 1291 when the last remaining possession, Acre, was destroyed by the Mamluks, but its history is divided into two distinct periods....
. It was first worn by Godfrey of Bouillon
Godfrey of Bouillon
Godfrey of Bouillon was a medieval Frankish knight who was one of the leaders of the First Crusade from 1096 until his death. He was the Lord of Bouillon, from which he took his byname, from 1076 and the Duke of Lower Lorraine from 1087...
, the first leader of the Kingdom. The four smaller crosses are said to symbolize either the four books of the Gospel
Four Evangelists
In Christian tradition the Four Evangelists are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the authors attributed with the creation of the four Gospel accounts in the New Testament that bear the following titles:*Gospel according to Matthew*Gospel according to Mark...
or the four directions
Cardinal direction
The four cardinal directions or cardinal points are the directions of north, east, south, and west, commonly denoted by their initials: N, E, S, W. East and west are at right angles to north and south, with east being in the direction of rotation and west being directly opposite. Intermediate...
in which the Word of Christ spread from Jerusalem. Alternatively, all five crosses can symbolize the five wounds
Holy Wounds
The Five Holy Wounds or Five Sacred Wounds refer to what are believed to be the five piercing wounds that was suffered during the crucifixion of Jesus....
of Christ during the Passion
Passion (Christianity)
The Passion is the Christian theological term used for the events and suffering – physical, spiritual, and mental – of Jesus in the hours before and including his trial and execution by crucifixion...
, the Pentateuch and, presumably, the first five Christian Churches.
Its origin may come from Phoenicia
Phoenicia
Phoenicia , was an ancient civilization in Canaan which covered most of the western, coastal part of the Fertile Crescent. Several major Phoenician cities were built on the coastline of the Mediterranean. It was an enterprising maritime trading culture that spread across the Mediterranean from 1550...
, in the shape of a white, sometimes green, eight-pointed cross, known as Maltese Cross
Maltese cross
The Maltese cross, also known as the Amalfi cross, is identified as the symbol of an order of Christian warriors known as the Knights Hospitaller or Knights of Malta and through them came to be identified with the Mediterranean island of Malta and is one of the National symbols of Malta...
, each point representing a Beatitude, as the Venerable Order of St John teaches.
The Jerusalem Cross is also used in the flag of Georgia
Flag of Georgia (country)
The official flag of Georgia is the "five-cross flag", restored to official use on January 14, 2004, after a break of some 500 years...
. And as a symbol of the Catholic Kairos retreat, where participants are given the pendant at the end of their experience.
Unicode character
The UnicodeUnicode
Unicode is a computing industry standard for the consistent encoding, representation and handling of text expressed in most of the world's writing systems...
character set has a character , U+2629 CROSS OF JERUSALEM in the Miscellaneous Symbols
Miscellaneous Symbols
The Miscellaneous Symbols Unicode block contains various glyphs representing things from a variety of categories: Astrological, Astronomical, Chess, Dice, Ideological symbols, Musical notation, Political symbols, Recycling, Religious symbols, Trigrams, Warning signs and Weather.-Tables:Note: These...
table. However, the glyph associated with that character is a cross potent
Cross potent
A cross potent, also known as a crutch cross, is a form of heraldic cross with crossbars or "crutches" at the four ends. In German, it is known as a Krückenkreuz or a Kruckenkreuz...
, and not a Jerusalem cross.