618 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.55. 



is longer than the transverse beam and is crossed by it near the 

 top •]-. It is the form supposed to liave been used in the crucifixion 

 of Christ. A variety of this cross is the Lorraine or Jerusalem 

 cross, with two transverse bars, the upper one shorter than the 

 lower ^, so-called, because Godfrey de Bouillon, Duke of Lorraine, 

 when chosen by the Crusaders as the first king of Jerusalem (1099), 

 adopted this cross. It is also called the cardinal cross, because it 

 is one of the distinctive insignia of cardinals and archbishops. 



101. Processional cross. — Made of bronze. With trefoil ends (cross 

 hotone). From the four angles of the junction of the two beams 

 issue rays. Above is a tablet with the title: J N R J, the initials of 

 Jesus Nazarenus Rex Judaeorum (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the 

 Jews), the inscription Pilate is recorded to have placed upon the 

 cross of Christ (John xix, 19-20). With a socket for inserting a 

 pole. Church processions are alv/ays headed by a cross fastened 

 on a pole. Height, 33 inches. — From a church of San Domingo, 

 Valley of Mexico. (Plate 77, Cat. No. 158316, U.S.N.M.) 



102. Processional (?) cross. — Made of bronze, richly adorned in 

 chased and hammered work. At the ends are medallions ropre- 

 senting, respectively: On top, God the Father holding in the left 

 hand a cross and with the right giving the blessing; to the right, 

 Mary; to the left, probably John the Baptist; and below, John the 

 Evangelist, holding the cup of the Eucharist. The figure of Christ 

 was broken away. With a tang for inserting into a shaft. Height 

 12 inclies.— Italy. (Plate 78, Cat. No. 152231, U.S.N.M.) 



103. Ivory cross vjith appurtenances of the Passion.~The cross 

 proper rises from a post which is set into a base. Both the post 

 and the base have on their sides a sort of railing in open vrork. The 

 base rests upon a plinth and this again is placed on a platform. At 

 the corners of the base are twisted colunms and on top of the corners 

 of the base as well as of the plinth and platform are carved vases. 

 The front and back are adorned with rosettes and clusters of grapes. 

 The whole stands on rounded feet. 



The objects connected with the Passion represented on this cross 

 are, beginning at the top, a pelican. From the habit of this bird 

 of storing food in the large pouch attached to its lower mandible for 

 the purpose of feeding its young, which it does by pressing the pouch 

 against the breast, arose the belief that it opened its breast with its 

 bill to feed its young with its own blood — a belief which seemed to 

 derive support from the red at the end of the bill, and thus the 

 pelican became a symbol of Christ's love for his church. 



Underneath is the tablet inscribed with the title, I N R I — Jesus 

 Nazarenus Rex Judaeorum (Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews — 

 John xix, 19-20). Upon the transverse beam are, at the right end 

 (of the plate) a winged sphinx, at the left a winged, horned griffin. 



