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Crosses,throughout
the ages, have played a major role in Ethiopia religious,
cultural and social life, and the cross has emerged
as perhaps the country's most important, and most
decorative, artistic emblem.
Crosses were first depicted on Aksumite coins, dating
back, as we saw in a previous article,from as early
as the fourth AD. such crosses, which were struck
in gold,silver and bronze for several centuries,
took the form of a simple equal-armed Greek or Roman
cross. These were almost certainly the first crosses
to com, and to be displayed and worn,in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia craftsmen, however, soon began producing
increasingly intricate, and complicated crosses,
which in the course of time developed a unique character,
and symbolism, of the own. Various features of the
cross, and it is often elaborate detail, came to
be endowed with subtle religious meaning, which have
thus said to represent the Trinity and the nature
of God; others such subjects as the sufferings of
Christ,the Twelve Apostles,and the Four Gospels.
Not
a few Ethiopian crosses, which have survived to the
present time, are associated with specific historical
rulers of the past. a fine processional cross at Lalibala
is believed to have personally belonged to the twelfth
century ruler of that name , while another, at the
monastery of Dabra Nagwadgwad, is said to have been
presented to it by the great, if fanatical,centralizing
Emperor Zar'a Ya'qob .
At least five basic types of cross are to be found in
Ethiopia . Each of them has evolved in innumerable, and
remarkably different,forms.
Processional
Crosses
The largest, and, in the opinion of many, the most impressive
of all Ethiopian crosses, are of processional crosses,
so named because they ware held above the heads of
the crowds in church processions.
 Advanced
Such crosses were used in the blessing of churches, and
of congregations, and were a prominent sight when,carried
by the clergy in their gorgeous vestments, they were
taken around the countryside great religious occasion,
including important saints' days.
Ethiopian
processional crosses, not a few notable examples of which
can be dated to at least the twelfth century, comprise
three basic features: the basic cross itself; a hollow
shaft, which enabled it to be mounted on a wooden pole,
or handle; and two lower arms, which served to hold a piece
of cloth also carried in procession. Processional crosses
were generally made of brass, silver, or wood.some were
also gilt, and a few, in the very richest churches or monasteries,
were of gold. The
basic design of the processional crosses, irrespective
of the material out of which it was fashioned, was
that of an often highly elaborate, and Ethiopians,
Greek or Latin cross. In many cases it had flared arms,
the lower one being often elongated to form the part
of the above-mentioned shaft. Many crosses were also
embellished, with strip-placing at the century, and/or
an endless variety of finials.
Though all crosses were of course cruciform in conception,
many processional crosses gave the appearance of other
forms. Some were thus almost entirely round, and others
diamond-shaped. others again, particularly characteristic
of the Lalibela period, were enclosed in an elongated
pear-shaped form, almost like a highly decorated leaf.
Not a few processional crosses were further embellished
with incised pictures, represent ion Biblical personages
or scenes, the Virgin Mary and Child, for example, or
St George. some processional crosses were also incised
with short inscriptions specifying for whom, or even
when, they were produced.
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Hand
Crosses, or Priests' Crosses |
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 Hand
crosses,.
which were considerably smaller, if more numerous,
than processional crosses, were carried by priest.
The latter were indeed seldom to be seen without
such a cross in their hand, or tied round their
neck. On meeting the faithful they would hold such
a cross to the faithful, who, seeking blessing,
would kiss it ritually, in many instances with
great fervour.
Hand crosses were generally mad of silver, iron,or
wood, and, being smaller than processional crosses,
tended to be less elaborate. They consisted in
essence of the cross itself, and, beneath it, a
long slim handle, by which it was held, and which
linked it to a base. This took the form of a solid
cube, or a flat rectangular plate, which might
sometimes be incrised with the name of the owner,
but seldom with anything more.
Some hand crosses had neatly worked leather sheaths
in which they would be kept, when not in service.
Hand crosses, in the prossession of religious personalities,
are from time to time despicted in traditional
Ethiopian church mural or manuscript paintings.
Such visual representations are historically important
in that they assist in identifying the type of
cross used at various epochs of Ethiopian history.
Ethiopian
Neck Crosses
for over 1600 years Christian
Ethiopians have worn neck crosses as a proud confession
of their faith. An Amhara women of Lalibela wears
a cross typical of that region, hanging on a blue
cotton corsd called a mateb which she received at
baptism.Lalibela, the capital of Ethiopia in the
tenth century,was named after king Lalibela who
was responsible for building the 13 rock-hewn churches
for which the town is now famous.
Ethiopia crosses, usually named sfter towns or
provinces of the highlands, are either cast by
the lost wax method or cut directly from a Maria
Thresa dollar. The oldest are of simple Greek
or Latin design. those with flared arms show the
the influence of Coptic crosses from upper and
lower Egypt; others probably under Celtic influence,
developed trefoils or decorative projections. With
the ready supply of silver in the nineteenth century,
the crosses become more elaborate: complicated
openwork designs,or patterns of endless interwoven
lines symbolizing eternity became popular. Additional
hinges and crowns show the influence of nineteenth
century European medals. The star of David is worn
by the Falasha,a small group of Jewish settlers
living near Gonder.
The four birds represents the doves of peace.
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 Pectoral,
or neck crosses, which were suspended from the necks of
the faithful ,were infinitely than the two other types
of cross above described.
Pectoral crosses were generally tied round their owner's
neck with a piece of blue thread or cord, called a madab,
which was sometimes give to the wearer at baptism. This
latter custom reputedly dated back to the time of Emperor
Zar'a Yaqob, who in the course of his struggle against
animist and other beliefs, forcibly decreed that every
Christian should wear a cord of this kind .
More
to See |
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 Such
crosses, in addition to the basic cross, generally also
had a ring, attached to the upper arm. in some instances
separated from the rest of the cross by a hinge, Most
crosses were solid,but others were hollow, and had a hinged
back that could be opened to insert a loket, which was
often highly prized. Other crosses had an additional functional
use, the lower arm being extended into a tiny spoon, known
as a kuk mawcha, which served for the extraction of wax
from the ear.
More to See |
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 Such
crosses, in addition to the basic cross, generally also
had a ring, attached to the upper arm. in some instances
separated from the rest of the cross by a hinge, Most
crosses were solid,but others were hollow, and had a hinged
back that could be opened to insert a loket, which was
often highly prized. Other crosses had an additional functional
use, the lower arm being extended into a tiny spoon, known
as a kuk mawcha, which served for the extraction of wax
from the ear.
More to See |
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 Such
crosses, in addition to the basic cross, generally also
had a ring, attached to the upper arm. in some instances
separated from the rest of the cross by a hinge, Most
crosses were solid,but others were hollow, and had a hinged
back that could be opened to insert a loket, which was
often highly prized. Other crosses had an additional functional
use, the lower arm being extended into a tiny spoon, known
as a kuk mawcha, which served for the extraction of wax
from the ear.
More to See
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