The Non-Christian Cross: An Enquiry Into the Origin and History of the Symbol Eventually Adopted as That of Our Religion (Classic Reprint). This item is unavailable.The Non-Christian Cross: An Enquiry Into the Origin and History of the Symbol Eventually Adopted as That of Our Religion (Classic Reprint)

Uncover the long history of the cross before Christianity and what it meant to ancient peoples.

This work traces a symbol from life, power, and sun worship into a Christian emblem, challenging common assumptions about its origins.

In clear, accessible prose, the book surveys pre-Christian uses of the stauros and cross-like forms, the coins and monuments that shed light on early symbolism, and the debates that have shaped modern views. It examines how the cross and related motifs were understood across cultures and centuries, and why Christian writers later reframed them as a key emblem of faith.

• Learn how ancient authors described the stauros and its varied forms, beyond a simple cross.
• See how symbols of Life and the Sun-God influenced early religious imagery.
• Explore the coin evidence and scholarly arguments about the Cross of Constantine and the monogram of Christ.
• Understand how later Christian art and tradition may have shifted the meaning and prominence of the cross.

Ideal for readers of religious history, symbol studies, and the interaction between pagan and Christian imagery.