Like many of the crosses, The St. Anthony's Cross is referenced by many other names. The Tau Cross, the Old Testament Cross, the Anticipatory Cross, the Cross Commissee, the Egyptian Cross, the Advent Cross, Croce taumata, "Saint Francis's Cross" or the Crux Commissa.
The Tau cross, named after the Greek letter it resembles, is suspected to have originated with the Egyptians. When a King was initiated into the Egyptian mysteries a tau was placed against his lips. It has been a symbol to many cultures before Christianity and is strongly identified with the bull in the astrological sign of Taurus.The Tau cross was a symbol of the Roman God Mithras and the Greek Attis, and their forerunner Tammuz, the Sumerian solar God, the consort of the Goddess Ishtar.
Tammuz, like Christ, was associated with fishing and shepherding. The Tau cross takes the shape of the letter of his name, and is one of the oldest letters known. A solar god, the death and resurrection of Tammuz were celebrated every summer. The custom of marking the forehead with a cross of ashes dates back to these rituals.
Today, its most common use is in reference to Saint Francis, who proclaimed to his fellow friars in his hometown of Assisi (Italy) that their monastic habit was the Tau Cross. The tau cross is often used as a variant of the Latin, or Christian cross.
Below you will find a gallery of inspirational images that will help you in your quest of creating the perfect St. Anthony Cross tattoo.
Also Check out: Celtic Cross, Saltire Tattoos, Southern Cross, Maltese Cross, Iron Cross, Religious Tattoo Index, Lucky Tattoo Index, and Latino Tattoo Index.
