Related Terms • Crucified serpent • Crucified Donkey • Swastika • Pentagram • Winged disk   Related Resources • Hermetic Tradition • Ouroboros Gallery • Alchemy  Glossaries  • Symbol Glossary • Alternative Religions Glossary • Glossary of Magick and the Occult

The Jerusalem cross was the emblem of Templar Crusaders, and may have been the personal arms of Templar Godfrey de Bouillon.

The Jerusalem cross has four arms at equal distances, symbolizing the four directions, and the belief that Jerusalem was the spiritual center of the earth.

The more complex version of the symbol below represented the spread of Christ's message through the four evangelists (Mathew, mark, Luke, and John), who are represented by the four additional "crosslets."

Templar Knight wearing Crusader's cross

Related Symbols:

See also:

Saviors and Madonnas
Can you guess the crucified saviors, good shepherds, Madonnas with child?

Related Articles:

The Dying Savior
Thousands of years before Jesus, there was a passion story told about a God man, born of a virgin mother, in a stable. He travels about with his followers, preaching and performing miracles, until one day he is allows himself to be arrested and tried for blasphemy. He is found guilty and executed, only to rise from the grave three days later, where the women weeping at his tomb do not recognize him- that is, until he assumes his divine form as the God Dionysus...

Elsewhere on the Web:

From Sun Disk to Crucifix
An illustrated history of the cross symbol.

Can't find what you're looking for? Something missing, broken, or incorrect? Have an idea or a question? Let us know in the Discussion Forum

Subscribe to the Newsletter Name Email

Need to ask me a question? I make every attempt to reply to all email. Click here to send me an email.