A symbol similar to the letter of the Greek alphabet is the tau cross. The cross of St. Anthony is what modern Christians call it, since the founder of monasticism once wore this symbol on his clothes.
This symbol is much older than the Christian religion; it was used both in ancient Egypt and in the countries of Scandinavia. Over its long history, the tau cross has changed a number of meanings, from bad to good.
What does this symbol look like?
The cross looks similar to the letter "T", which is why it got its name. The letter "tau" is included immediately in two alphabets - Greek and Hebrew. She herself was once borrowed by the Greeks from the Phoenicians, in their alphabet the letter sounds like “tav”. Jews, according to one version, borrowed symbols from the Egyptians before they left this country. In this regard, the cross is called the Old Testament.
In addition to resembling a letter, the symbol looks like a crucifix. That is, the crosses on which the criminals and slaves were executed in the Roman Empire, and not only them, but also all those who were objectionable to the authorities. The tau cross is similar to the medieval gallows. In the Early Middle Ages, this instrument of execution looked exactly like that. For this similarity, the symbol received another name - "the gallows cross."
What does this symbol mean?
It is generally accepted that the tau cross in heraldry symbolizes:
- balancing opposites;
- education;
- immortality of the soul;
- selectivity;
- a life.
The heraldic meaning of the symbol is largely composed of what the Templars put into his understanding.
For the Egyptians, who lived in ancient times, this symbol meant fertility and power. As an Old Testament symbol, the tau cross has the following meaning:
- end of an era;
- rebirth of the nation;
- the beginning of a new life.
That is, for the Jews, this sign represented the Exodus from Egypt and everything that was associated with it. According to legend, it was this symbol of the Jews depicted at the entrance to their homes before leaving Egypt.
What is the meaning of the cross in early Christianity?
Among Christians, the cross began to be associated with St. Anthony only after the VI century, until that time the meaning of the symbol was rather gloomy. At the time of the birth of Christianity, this sign was considered a symbol of Cain and he personified nothing more than the end of time, the cessation of the existence of the world.
In principle, such an understanding was logical, since Christianity at the time of its formation was a religion of slaves, poor people and other oppressed and hopeless people. This is precisely what most historians explain as the rapid spread of the new religion, its popularity. Christianity gave them hope and confidence in forgiveness. After all, Jesus took a thief to heaven with him, and theft was punished in the Roman Empire much more severely than, for example, murder. And in pre-Christian beliefs there wasn’t what Jesus brought with him - rewards for non-resistance and humility.
And what did the new followers of the Christian faith see in the tau cross? What was daily observed on all roads and squares of the Empire - crucifixes, on which slaves and criminals who were objectionable to the state were executed. That is, the sign was associated with suffering and death in torment. And Christ himself was also crucified on the same cross. It was difficult enough to see other positive meanings in such a symbol.
Therefore, at first the tau cross was associated only with the death of existing, the end of the world, betrayal, torment and other bad things. However, over time, the ancient significance began to prevail over the early Christian perception, and already in the 6th century many ascetics and clergy, including the founder of the monasticism, St. Anthony, began to use this symbol. It is possible that the return of the primary meaning of symbolism in human perception was facilitated by the disappearance from the roads and squares of crosses intended for executions.
What was the meaning of the symbol in the Middle Ages?
However, in the history of the symbol, everything went not so smoothly. If a simple resident of Europe, such as a peasant or a shopkeeper, was asked in the Middle Ages what a tau cross is, then a person without hesitation would have answered - the gallows. And he would also have shown this instrument of execution, which stood in the courtyard of each feudal castle, in the squares of cities and villages.
At that time, the symbol was not called otherwise than the cross of the gallows. Even the first Templars, who made the sign one of their attributes, were popularly called the "order of the gallows." Perhaps that is why the knights stopped using the badge as the main symbol of their order.
That is, in the Middle Ages, the sign represented deprivation, death, and everything else, with which the gallows were associated. Literate people, noble or church ministers did not put such a significance in this symbol. The merchants did not endow it with such a sense, because of their occupation, they travel a lot and know more than ordinary inhabitants.
How is its meaning esoteric?
The tau cross has other meanings. Like many ancient symbols, this sign was used not only in religion, but also in esotericism and cabalism.
The meaning in esoteric is “the path to the spiritual realm”. A sufficiently common esoteric sign is this cross entwined with a snake. This symbol is only similar to the one used by doctors, upon closer examination, they have nothing in common. The snake in esoteric teachings personifies wisdom. That is, the image of a cross of this type, entwined by a snake, means that on the path to spirituality or enlightenment, a person acquires wisdom.
Importance in Cabalism
In cabalistic teachings, the tau cross represents the sky. The meaning is broad and comprehensive. That is, symbolism means heaven as a natural phenomenon, element, and as another form of life, paradise.
Other understandings of heaven are not excluded. In cabalism, the sign was supplemented with various details. That is, unlike a religious symbol, it was not perceived alone, but read in context.