Ornamental Alphabets, Ancient and Mediæval (page 3/5)

53.—Mongrams, Crosses, etc. [overview]

Monograms (e.g. IHS), gothic crosses and other religious symbols. [more...]

53.1.—Cross of the Holy Name

The closest cross I could find to this one is the symbol used in Cabbalistic mysticism representing a Holy Name. It is also similar to the cross used by the pope and other Papist dignitaries alongside their [...] [more...]

53.2.—IHS Monogram

The monogram IHS comes from the Greek for Jesus, IHESUS, or from the Latin Ihesus Hominum Salvator, which is, Jesus, saviour of Mankind (Jesus was the name of a religious person). A modern interpretation is In His Service. [more...]

53.3.—Clubs

This symbol is part-way between a clover-leaf, a Lutheran Cross and they sign for the playing-card suit of clubs, which in turn derives from the alchemical symbol for wood. [more...]

53.4.—Decorative Cross

A decorative cross. The outer part is an anchor cross or a fleur-de-lys cross. I have no further information on this one. [more...]

53.5.—Cross With Unkempt Hair

This might be a symbol representing a crown, with the crosses implying rule over a spirtual realm but with temporal power, such as an abbot or bishop. I don’t know what the hairstyle is about. Maybe it’s just a totally gothic cross. Or more likely [...] [more...]

53.6.—Cross with Circle

Perhaps the circle represents the world, the inner signs the four nails used to crucify the naked Jesus, the outer branches of the cross with the fleurons representing the religion itself. This would make it a variation of the symbol for evangelists, perhaps [...] [more...]

53.7.—Clubs On Legs

Possibly an architectural cross seen at the top of an arch. [more...]

53.8.—IHS

The monogram IHS comes from the Greek for Jesus, IHESUS, or from the Latin Ihesus Hominum Salvator, which is, Jesus, saviour of Mankind (Jesus was the name of a religious person). A modern interpretation is In His Service. [more...]

53.9.—Gothic Cross

A cross between a cross and the ace of clubs, or perhaps clover leaves. This is called a ‘budded cross’, and in heraldry a ‘treflee cross’, ‘trefoil cross’, ‘bontonee cross’ or bottony cross’. [more...]

53.10.—Ornamental vine leaves

A vine-leaf that might be used as a printer’s ornament or fleuron. [more...]

53.11.—Four Quarters Cross

A cross with a centre divided into four quarters, perhaps representing the four Gospels, the four Evangelists who wrote them, or the four corners of the world. This cross might look well on a map as a compass rose to mark North, South East and West, but make [...] [more...]