Cross - Ethiopian Orthodox - Ethiopia

Interesting Orthodox cross (mäsqäl) from Ethiopia. Finely chiselled wood, beautiful patina.

Coming from a historic private collection started by an Italian ancestor in Ethiopia in 1936 in the Lalibela area and declared, on site, to date from the end of the 1800s to the beginning of the 1900s.

Quickly, very well packaged and shipped with insurance and tracking.

A similar example can be seen on the website of the Brooklyn Museum in New York.
Ethiopian crosses
Christianity most likely arrived in Ethiopia in the 1st century. The conversion of King Ezana in 330 AD led to its official acceptance and the minting of coins bearing one of the first uses of the cross as a Christian symbol. Although the silver pendant crosses in the Museum's collection date back to the 19th and 20th centuries, their shapes have a considerably longer history, as evidenced by the much older copper, wood and iron crosses here.

Hand crosses, used by priests, are held in the hand or suspended from a cord around the neck. They are kissed by the faithful to receive a blessing. Processional crosses are carried on long poles in religious processions. Prayer sticks are used to mark the rhythm during sacred dances and as supports to lean on while standing for long hours during Orthodox religious services. Together, all of these crosses are emblems of the continuing authority of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.