The Maltese Cross. What's the Deal?

As of late, a very old, and very honored symbol has been usurped once again by a group of people who have forgotten the history of its symbolism. I speak specifically of the Cross Formee, Cross Pattee, the Iron Cross, or in some circles, the Teutonic Cross. Many uninformed call this cross the Maltese Cross, and it is currently one of the hottest symbols of the fashion world, right next to the Nike "Swoosh" or the Izod Alligator! (bet you forgot that one!) The Orange County Choppers are using it as their symbol, hate groups sometimes use it as their symbol, and fashion designers use it whenever they can. (Why? Because it is neatest and strongest looking of all Cross symbols!)

Being a lover of history, especially Western European history, and having a special affection for the Cross Formee, I am going to educate anyone who is interested, in the history of said symbol.

The cross design is first and foremost, the symbol adopted by Christians to remind them of Christ's death on a crucifixtion cross, and an empty cross symbolizes his ressurection. The simplest of cross designs is the Greek Cross. Simply two broad lines crossed at the center. During the first Crusade, the Hospitaller's used this symbol as their own but adjusted it to make the crossing lines angle ever so slightly wider, or flared out toward the ends. This is the beginning of the development of the Cross Formee. The Teutonic knights, not to be outdone, or confused with the Hospitallers, used the same design but instead used the Greek Cross and made the ends flare drastically at the ends. Now is seems only a step away from what we see today as the "Maltese Cross", bringing these two symbols together and getting the current version of the Formee/Pattee cross. However, the true Maltese cross has a very strict definition. "A cross made from four straight lined pointed arrowheads, meeting at their points, with the ends of the arms consisting of indented 'V's." Simply, the ends are not flat. To see one, simply look at the cross on any fire truck in the USA and you will see what I mean.

The Cross Formee, Pattee, or Iron cross you see now adays, is much different and indeed not the Maltese cross. It's finished form was very popular in the Middle Ages, but was probably most identifiable from its use in Germany. It was in March 1813, during the War of Liberation against Napolean, that King Fredrich Wilhelm III issued what is called the Prussian Iron Cross. It was awarded to anyone, of any nation, of any level of society, for acts of heroism, bravery, or leadership skill. It was again used and issued in 1870 for the Franco-Prussion War and for World War I

However, it was in 1939, (and here we get into it's first usurpation, and connotations of being "sinister") that Hitler issued the Iron Cross for bravery and valor, but this time with a Swastika imprinted on it's front. (Oddly enough, the Swastika, or Fylfot Cross has under gone the same transformation as the Formee/Pattee cross, but it never recovered it's image)

The Iron Cross was outlawed in 1945, but re-introduced in 1957 by Germany and still used today as the symbol of it's army, much like the white star on US army vehicles.

Some hate groups still use the Iron Cross image in some of their stuff, but they are losing it to the Motorcycle and fashion world. (Hurray for motorcyclists and fashionistas!)

And here we find the irony in the Iron Cross. It is called the Maltese Cross, which it is not. It is sometimes seen, (by the uninformed) as a symbol of evil, which it is not. It is however, in the end a Christian symbol, used often by military organizations in Christian Nations, as a symbol to evoke the idea of a noble Christian ideal. However, people forget the past and use symbols for what ever purpose they desire.

Now that you know more than you ever wished to know about the Formee or Pattee cross, you might ask why did I take all this time to write this. Simply because history is important to me and I want others to understand it correctly. I hate it when historical information gets changed to meet a current trend or politically correct ideal. And because I take the Formee cross as my own personal symbol, mainly for the original meaning, and I want people to know it for what it is, not what the fashion industry wants it to be. Thanks!

Later!

For more information, take a look at http://netpages.free-online.co.uk/gms/sinister.htm
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The following information on crosses was taken from http://www.likeacat.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=17 , a jewelery site, oddly enough.

Their information reflected what I have found and was the most concise, so I decided to post it here. They have alot of information on different types of crosses along with images of the actual crosses on their website.

"Wotan's Cross reflects similar symbolism, with the cross and circle as a symbol of cosmic union. The circle also stood for the earth horizon, with the four directions meeting at the center. It was also called the Sun Cross for the sun (cross) embraced by heaven (circle). The often repeated symbolism is that of a diety in the middle of a four-way heaven.

Cross Patee was popular in medieval heraldry. It was a combination of the Christian (Greek) cross and Wotan's. This cross, also known as Cross Formee, was often shown as the insignia of the god Frey.

A similar appearing cross is the Maltese Cross, originallly from the island of Malta, home of one of the world's oldest Goddess temples. This design directs attention to the center, possibly to indicate earth's geographical center, omphalos, and site of the Goddess's chief temple."