ETHIOPIAN CROSSES: THE OTHER AFRICAN JEWELRY

I dig around for Ethiopian Crosses whenever I happen upon an import store or vendor selling African jewelry or other cultural artifacts from the continent.

FAITH COLLECTIBLES

I cherish these collectibles. I wear them occasionally and they make a very impressive statement.

The crosses were originally made for followers of the Coptic Church an Eastern Orthodox denomination of Christianity  in the country of Ethiopia.  Ethiopia is the modern name for Cush in the Bible’s Old Testament.

 CROSS DESIGN FEATURES

• Many crosses feature ornate silversmith work  
• Some are simple, stamped silver-tone or bronze metal
• Most feature a geometric design that almost appears to be a combination of a Christian Cross with a Jewish Star of David and an Ankh. 
• One I own is a rough hewn, etched green stone and seems ancient
• Several are made from an animal horn
• My favorite is made of coiled red leather string

The tips of all of the crosses feature 3 point design elements totaling 12 points on the entire cross. 

PERSONAL FAITH ARTICLES

I purchased each of my crosses for under $10. They are now sold on the internet by many online retailers. These crosses are personal articles of faith and not church processional or liturgical artifacts.

RELIGIOUS HISTORY

Ethiopia has one of the most ancient Hebrew-Christian religious traditions in the world, going back beyond 1000 BC as documented in the Bible. Ethiopian icons like paintings and illustrated Bibles are some of the most beautiful in the world. Photographs of Coptic churches buildings are awe-inspiring.

ARE YOU A COLLECTOR?

What's your favorite collectible?

RESOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION

The most popular  and fascinating book on the ancient history of the Ethiopian Coptic Church is THE SIGN AND THE SEAL by Graham Hancock, publisher Touchstone, 1993.

Here is a link to information on the modern Ethiopian Coptic Church:

New York Times 2001 article

Ethiopia’s Rock of Ages, Balm of the Faithful

Update:  I just went online to shop for a book on Ethiopian crosses.  There's one on Amazon.com selling for $199 to $1,250!!!

Pat Thomas for Jewelrystash