A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other, dividing one or two of the lines in half. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally; if they run obliquely, the design is technically termed a saltire, although the arms of a saltire need not meet at right angles.
The cross is one of the most ancient human symbols, and has been used by many religions, most notably Christianity. It is frequently a representation of the division of the world into four elements (Chevalier, 1997) or cardinal points, or alternately as the union of the concepts of divinity, the vertical line, and the world, the horizontal line (Koch, 1955).
Read more about Cross: Etymology, History, As Markings, In Heraldry, In Flags, As A Design Element, Other Noteworthy Crosses
Famous quotes containing the word cross:
“As I was going by Charing Cross,
I saw a black man upon a black horse;
They told me it was King Charles the First—”
—Unknown. As I was going by Charing Cross (l. 1–3)
“Life is a bridge. Cross over it, but build no house on it.”
—Indian proverb, quoted in Bruce Chatwin, The Songlines, ch. 30, “From the Notebooks” (1987)
“To be where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars.”
—Douglass Cross (b. 1920)