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Discover the expert in you.
The cross has been used as a symbol since the dawn of civilization. It has been found in nearly every part of the world in nearly every era of civilization. Today, the cross is most commonly associated with Christianity, but prior to Jesus and the Christian church, the cross was an important symbol to many different cultures.
The Cross of Lorraine, often referred to in contemporary times as the patriarchal cross, is a Christian cross bearing two horizontal lines over a single vertical line. These horizontal lines, originally equal in length, developed into a shorter top horizontal line over a longer bottom horizontal line. It originated in Asia in the first millennium, traveling to Europe and becoming popular through usage by many different groups.
Becoming a knight in medieval Europe was theoretically possible for any freeman. But it was very expensive, so with few exceptions it was the wealthy landowners and their sons who worked their way through the stages that ended with a sword laid on each shoulder and the words “Arise, Sir ....” In the early Middle Ages knighthoods were easily obtained, but by the time of the Crusades in the 12th century they had acquired great importance. They were a mark of loyalty to God and king, and an important social symbol.
Since ancient history, people have died for crimes they've committed. Today capital punishment comes in a relatively humane fashion in many modern cultures through lethal injection. However, earlier methods of execution involved much pain and suffering. Executioners often dealt their torture on prisoners in the public view, often celebrated as an event. Some methods of execution seem to be creatively fashioned in order to inflict the greatest pain and humiliation possible.
The phonograph is a device that was primarily used in the late 19th and 20th centuries for sound recording. While revolutionary at the time, it is currently considered outdated, though is often marketed as an antique of historical importance.
Doctors Without Borders is the English translation of the name, Medecins Sans Frontieres, a medical relief organization that serves in areas where peoples' survival is threatened by armed conflicts, epidemics, widespread malnutrition, natural disasters, and the exclusion from health care. The hallmark of the organization is its neutrality, which resists making judgment in favor of simply providing medical care for all who need it
Tower Bridge is an iconic image of London, and one of about 30 bridges that cross the River Thames.
The Iron Cross is a German military honor originally created in 1813 for the Prussian army during the Napoleonic Wars. The cross was awarded for distinguished service in the German armed forces. The medal took on a number of different designs over the years, but the basic form remained the same since it was originally awarded.
The Caravaca cross is a double-cross. The origin of this special crucifix took place in the Spanish town of Caravaca in 1232. The cross of Caravaca is said to contain a fragment of the cross, upon which Jesus was crucified.
The Jerusalem Cross is a design that appeared with the nobles during the First Crusade and was supposed to provide them with divine protection in the Holy Land. It features five crosses, one large and four small, that are said to represent Jesus and the four evangelists, as well as the five wounds sustained by Jesus on the cross. It also symbolizes the four corners of the world in which Christianity is to be spread.
In folklore, myths and legends, knights were men who fought---clad in shining armor---villains and dragons. Knighthood was something that was bestowed upon brave commoners or even nobles by a grateful king or queen. It is interesting to learn that this notion of medieval knighthood has given way to a more modern interpretation thereof.
