The symbolism of the cross goes much deeper than what the Christians assign to it. The Christian symbol of the cross incorporates only part of its ancient pagan meanings. Pagans attached a much greater significance to it.
The cross symbol originally represented fire and looked like a swastika. As the sign of life, the cross was always associated with fire and the sun. The cross was also the symbol for several pagan gods. The vertical arm of the cross symbolized the masculine forces of the sky, the horizontal arm the feminine forces of darkness. When used to symbolize a god being crucified it might have, above the god’s head, an upside down crescent moon symbolizing death and resurrection. The crucifixion of a god represented the sun’s passing through the equinoxes. In the spring, the sun reaches the vernal equinox and is resurrected. In the winter, it descends in the sky until the solstice when it stops or dies for three days, then on December 25th, moves north and is reborn.
The cross symbolizes the threshold between time and eternity. Death and resurrection. The cross is the threshold over which a soul leaves this earth and enters eternity. It is also the threshold at which the soul comes back from eternity and is reborn. It is a gateway between life and the afterlife. A god on the cross signifies his control of that gate, symbolism less obviously adopted by the Christians.
In the celebration of Easter, an outgrowth of ancient pagan festivals, we should remember the cross’s much greater heritage and symbolism.
© Shawna Ryan
Author: thrillers DESTINY'S DAMNED & SATAN'S SCAT
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www.pilchuckpublishing.com
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