Friday, November 16, 2012

Earth (Globus Cruciger, Cross Triumphant)

The globe and cross or globus cruciger is an emblem adopted by early Christian rulers to emphasize the dominance of the religion. The symbol combines a globe, an early Roman symbol of divine authority, with a cross. During the renaissance period, it became common to include the emblem in portraits of Christ as the compassionate Salvator Mundi (World Savior).
The emblem is still an important part of coronation ceremonies in Christian monarchies.

The globus cruciger is sometimes used as an astrological symbol for earth, and has seen occasional use as the alchemical symbol for antimony.
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Salvator Mundi, painting by Hans Memling

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