Staurogram
The staurogram (from Greek σταυρός staurós "trunk, cross"), also Crux monogrammatica ("one-letter cross" in contrast to Chi Rho ), is a symbol for Jesus Christ .
It is either a letter composite disposed (ligature) to a cross, formed from the superimposition position of the Greek letter Τ ( Tau ) and Ρ ( Rho ), the middle section of the shortened sacrum noun S t au r os (New Testament-Greek for "cross" ) was common.
Or it is described as a ligature formed from the Greek letter Χ ( Chi ) rotated by 45 ° and the Greek letter Ρ ( Rho ). According to the description of Lactantius (Lact. Mort. Pers. 44: 1-9) this is considered to be the sign that Constantine the Great is said to have seen in a dream before the battle at the Milvian Bridge .
It is controversial whether the character described by Lactantius was actually a staurogram. In many cases, this description is also interpreted as a handle cross ( ankh sign, Latin crux Ansata ). Some ancient historians also interpret it as a Christ monogram .
In Unicode , the character U + 2CE8 COPTIC SYMBOL TAU RO ( ⳨ ) is defined in the Unicode block Coptic .
See also
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- Hans Georg Tümmel: The emergence of the Christian symbol ( memento from February 10, 2013 in the web archive archive.today ) in the report of the 17th conference of the Christian Archeology Working Group (AGCA)
- Constantin's vision of lactance ( memento of October 7, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) in: Power calculation or religious execution? - 'The Constantinian Turn' in the mirror of contemporary traditions and today's antiquity research ( Memento of October 7, 2007 in the Internet Archive )