Thestaurogram (⳨), alsomonogrammatic cross ortau-rho,[1] is aligature composed of a superposition of theGreek letterstau (Τ) andrho (Ρ).
The symbol is of pre-Christian origin. It is found on copper coins minted byHerod I in 37 BC, interpreted as atr ligature representingtrikhalkon indicating the coin value.[2]
The staurogram was first used to abbreviatestauros (σταυρός), the Greek word forcross, in very earlyNew Testament manuscripts such as𝔓66,𝔓45 and𝔓75, almost like anomen sacrum, and may visually have representedJesus on the cross.[3]
The Tau-Rho as aChristian symbol outside its function asnomen sacrum in biblical manuscripts appears fromc. the 4th century, used as amonogramma Christi alongside theChi-Rho and other variants, spreading to Western Europe in the 5th and 6th centuries.[4]
Ephrem the Syrian (4th century) discusses a Christian symbol, apparently combining the Tau-Rho withAlpha and Omega placed under the left and right horizontal arms of the Tau.Ephrem says that the Tau represents the cross of Jesus (prefigured by the outstretched hands ofMoses inExodus 17:11), the Alpha and Omega signify that the crucified Christ is "the beginning and end", and the Rho, finally, signifies "Help" (βοήθια [sic]; classical spelling:βοήθεια), because of thenumerological value of the Greek word being100, represented by Rho as aGreek numeral.[5]
The two letters tau and rho can be found separately (not in ligature) as symbols already onearly Christianossuaries.[6]Tertullian (Contra Marcionem 3.22) explains the Tau as a symbol of salvation by identification with the sign which inEzekiel 9:4 was marked on the forehead of the saved ones.[3]The rho by itself can refer to Christ asMessiah becauseAbraham, taken as a symbol of the Messiah, generatedIsaac according to a promise made by God when he was one hundred years old, and 100 is the value of rho.[6]: 158
The staurogram is encoded byUnicode in theCoptic block, atU+2CE8 ⳨COPTIC SYMBOL TAU RO, and as of Unicode 7.0 (2014) also in theAncient Symbols block, atU+101A0 𐆠GREEK SYMBOL TAU RHO. The Coptic block has a ligature of the full word σταυρός, where the τρ is represented by the staurogram, and twolunate sigmas are attached to either side of the tau's horizontal bar, atU+2CE7 ⳧COPTIC SYMBOL STAUROS.
The dictionary definition ofstaurogram at Wiktionary
Media related toStaurogram at Wikimedia Commons.svg)
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