Latin cross

Christian symbol

Also known as: crux immissa

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

The Latin cross is a Christian symbol characterized by a long upright shaft and a shorter crossbar that intersects it above the middle. It is one of the principal symbols of the Christian religion, representing the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the redemption through his death. While the Latin cross is traditionally believed to be the form on which Christ died, other forms exist, such as the Greek cross, which has four equal arms. The cross has been used as a symbol in various cultures long before Christianity, but its prominent adoption in Christian art and devotion began after Emperor Constantine in the 4th century.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Western architecture
Early Renaissance in Italy (1401–95)
…for medieval churches was the Latin cross plan, as at San Lorenzo; the longer arm of the cross formed the nave of the church. During the Middle Ages this plan was considered a symbolic reference to the cross of Christ. During the Renaissance the ideal church plan tended to be…
Read More
…for medieval churches was the Latin cross plan, as at San Lorenzo; the longer arm of the cross formed the nave of the church. During the Middle Ages this plan was considered a symbolic reference to the cross of Christ. During the Renaissance the ideal church plan tended to be…
Read More

cross
Types of crosses
…arms; the crux immissa, or Latin cross, whose base stem is longer than the other three arms; the crux commissa, in the form of the Greek letter tau, sometimes called St. Anthony’s cross; and the crux decussata, named from the Roman decussis, or symbol of the numeral 10, also known…
Read More
…arms; the crux immissa, or Latin cross, whose base stem is longer than the other three arms; the crux commissa, in the form of the Greek letter tau, sometimes called St. Anthony’s cross; and the crux decussata, named from the Roman decussis, or symbol of the numeral 10, also known…
Read More