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Sign of the Son of Man.” Numismatic Evidence of the Jewish Origins of the Cross T. B. Cartwright December 5, 2014 Introduction Anticipation for the Jewish Messiah’s first prophesied arrival was great and widespread. Both Jewish and Samaritan populations throughout the known world were watching because of the timeframe given in Daniel 9. These verses, simply stated, proclaim that the Messiah’s ministry would begin about 483 years from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem in 445BC. So, beginning about 150 BC, temple scribes began placing the Hebrew tav in the margins of scrolls to indicate those verses related to the “Messiah” or to the “Last Days.” The meaning of the letter tav is “sign,” “symbol,” “promise,” or “covenant.” Shortly after 150 BC, the tav (both + and X forms) began showing up on coins throughout the Diaspora -- ending with a flurry of the use of the symbol at the time of the Messiah’s birth. The Samaritans, in an effort to remain independent of the Jewish community, utilized a different symbol for the anticipation of their Messiah or Tahib. Their choice was the tau-rho monogram, , which pictorially showed a suffering Tahib on a cross. Since the Northern Kingdom was dispersed in 725 BC, there was no central government authority to direct the use of the symbol. So, they depended on the Diaspora and nations where they were located to place the symbol on coins. The use of this symbol began in Armenia in 76 BC and continued through Yeshua’s ministry and on into the early Christian scriptures as a nomina sacra. As a result, the symbols ( +, X and ) were the “original” signs of the Messiah prophesied throughout scriptures. For the purpose of this article, details of the tau-rho monogram and the Samaritan Tahib will be discussed in a separate paper. The present work will focus only on the “tav” cross. The Cross and the Messiah – the Vatican’s View The lack of credible evidence of the true history of the cross was probably the biggest disappointment during the research for this paper. The “official history” of the cross comes from the Vatican -- which notoriously rewrote history to validate Catholicism. (A prominent example of a misleading claim is that Peter was the first Pope when, in reality, Yakov (James), Yeshua’s brother, was the first Bishop of the Jerusalem church.) But, where the history of the cross is concerned, the Vatican’s version says that the cross originated in the year 200 AD in the catacombs of Rome (as a Greek cross in Figure 1). The reason given for such a late origination of the cross comes from the early Church fathers who said that the cross stood for Christ’s pain and suffering and the overwhelming shame of that made it too unbearable to use as a symbol. As a result, the first “official” cross, known as the Latin cross, was not designated until the time of Constantine the Great, after the Council of Nicaea. An example of the first use of the Latin cross can be seen on a bronze follis from 334 AD in Figure 2. Earliest known public use of the cross. An inscription on the tomb of Rufinas and Irene. Catacombs of Rome. 205 AD Figure 1. Vatican’s 1st public use of the cross Figure 2. 1st appearance of the Latin cross on a from the tombThis typeof Rufinas of cross, 205 with AD equal bronze follis of Constantine 334 AD. length arms, is known as the “Greek Cross” Here is a good summary of the Catholic Church’s version of the history of the cross from Marucchi’s work in 1908: “…the cross should have appeared in Christian homes as an object of religious veneration, although no such monument of the earliest Christian art has been preserved.” “The cross, therefore, appears at an early date as an element of the liturgical life of the faithful, and to such an extent that in the first half of the third century Tertullian could publicly designate the Christian body as "crucis religiosi", i.e. devotees of the Cross.” “It is probable, though we have no historical evidence for it, that the primitive Christians used the cross to distinguish one another from the pagans in ordinary social intercourse… and …replied to the pagan taunt by showing that their persecutors themselves adored cruciform objects.” “The second event was of even greater importance. In the year 326 the mother of Constantine, Helena, then about 80 years old, having journeyed to Jerusalem… would discover the Saviour's Tomb and His Cross…” Marucchi, O. (1908). Archæology of the Cross and Crucifix. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved November 12, 2011 from New Advent: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04517a.htm It is important to point out that Helena had several historians and writers in her contingent to Jerusalem. Their purpose was to detail her activities and the journals of the trip still exist. However, none of their extensive, detailed writings mention “the greatest archeological find of all time” – the cross on which Christ was crucified. So, it is my speculation that the Latin Cross was contrived from a political arrangement between the Constantine government and the Roman Church’s desire to be unique as God’s chosen Church. Unfortunately, it is the “legend” of Helena’s cross that became the design basis for the “Christian Crosses” even into current times. The Cross and the Messiah -- The Facts To quote John Adams, “…facts are stubborn things…” The historical and archeological evidence show clearly that the cross existed at least 350 years before the Vatican’s claim. Ancient coins provide the clearest, most convincing evidence that the simple cross was used not only by the early Christians just after the crucifixion but also by faithful Jews before Christ’s coming. Verifying evidence of the early cross can also be found in scrolls, ossuaries, and rings and coins in the centuries before and after Yeshua’s birth and death. (A complete chronology of Christian symbols can be seen in Appendix I.) Was this evidence known by early Christian fathers? Yes, it appears that theologians and historians have worked diligently through the centuries to suppress the knowledge of early crosses. Most examples were explained away as “ornaments,” “wheel spokes,” “four winds of the earth,” “stars ” or “ alignment marks.” The basis for this activity appears to be an anti-Semitic attitude and the desire to promote their own “orthodoxy.” The political pressure to keep the “history” secret was tremendous, as described by archeologist Charles Ganneau in 1873 upon discovering ancient crosses (Figure 3) on tombs and ossuaries dated to about 15 AD: “I do not think it can be anything other than the sign of the cross, but I do not overlook the difficulties which beset that view, considering our…ideas …to the earliest period at which the cross was recognized as the emblem of Christianity… If this cross is really a Christian symbol, we must … admit that the chronological rules upon which all archeologists have hitherto justly agreed with regard to Christian monuments do not apply…” Archaeological Researches in Palestine During the Years 1873 - 1874, by Charles Clermont-Ganneau, p. 403-4 Figure 3 . Ganneau’s Sketch of Cross in Bethany tomb Figure 4 . Headstone at the Mt of Olives tomb. From JCR Vol 9, Issue 2. Additional archeological evidence includes the headstone of a tomb (Figure 4) that has a simple cross cut into the stone. This was reported in the Jerusalem Christian Review, Volume 9, Internet Edition, Issue 2. This find was located at the entrance of the “Mt of Olives” tomb discovered in 1953. It was also reported that several of the ossuaries in the tomb had sketches of crosses on them and that the tomb was used by Christians until 70 AD. So, what is the earliest known use of the cross as a symbol of the Messiah? The evidence trail begins with a recent archeological find -- the “Dead Sea Scrolls.” One of the most spectacular finds of the Dead Sea Scrolls was an intact version of Isaiah dated 150 BC. The document was believed to be transcribed by the Essenes from a version written in 350 BC. An interesting feature of the document is a series of scribal marks in the margins. The marks included dots, dashes, “hats”, and most importantly, crosses. The crosses were actually the Hebrew letter “Tav” which appears to indicate verses related to the End Times and Messiah. There are about 10 instances of the Tav used in this fashion. The literal translation of “Tav” is covenant or symbol. So, the logical conclusion is that these scribal marks are the earliest known correlation between the “Cross” and the “Messiah.” Example of these marks can be seen below in Figure 5 followed by the interpretation from Fred P. Miller: Figure 5. Tav in the margins of the Great Scroll of Isaiah. Image from article by Fred Miller. The verses (54:16 – 17) discuss the End Times and the protection God gives to Israel. “(16.) Behold, I have created the craftsman who blows the coals in the fire, and who brings out an implement for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. (17.) No weapon that is formed against you shall succeed; And verses (55:3-5) discuss the Messiah “(3.) Extend your ear, and come to me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, the faithful mercies of David. (4.) Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.
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