88 



ORNAMENT ON THE EARLY CROSSES OF CORNWALL. 



more advancement, it may be, that its crosses like its architec- 

 ture were much later than in other places, but seeing that no 

 particular kind of cross is specified in the will, I am inclined to 

 think that it did not refer to the sculptured stones. 



THE SYMBOLISM? OF THE ORNAMENT. 



We will now touch briefly on certain architectural or orna- 

 mental features of the crosses, which are associated by some 

 people with symbolism. My own opinion is, that they are simply 

 what I have just described them to be, and that when they were 

 designed, no symbolism whatever was intended. 



In the first place, there are no ancient books or MSS. which 

 have any bearing on the particular points in question, conse- 

 quently we are without historical evidence regarding them. 

 Secondly, the position of these ornaments on the crosses them- 

 selves, seems to me to be opposed to the theory that they are 

 emblematic. 



The cross itself is, of course, the Symbol of our Faith. We 

 will now examine separately some of the details described as 

 mystic signs. 



(1). The Circle, or ring of a cross, as an emblem of 

 Eternity. It has been shewn that the cross was developed out of 

 the Chi Eho monogram, 1 enclosed in a circle. A study of the 

 above diagrams, copied by permission, will make this clear. 



There is, however, no evidence to shew that the circle was 

 intended to represent Eternity. The sign above was in very 

 general use in the East as a kind of seal, carved on the lintels 

 of the doors, and is also found on a number of sarcophagi. 



1 " Early Christian Symbolism," p. 94, J. Eomilly Allen, F.S.A., Scot., 

 London, 1887. 



