The Staurogram
When did Christians start to depict images of Jesus on the cross?
The staurogram combines the Greek letters tau-rho to stand in for parts of the Greek words for “cross” (stauros) and “crucify” (stauroō) in Bodmer papyrus P75. Staurograms serve as the earliest images of Jesus on the cross, predating other Christian crucifixion imagery by 200 years. Photo: Foundation Martin Bodmer.
How and when did Christians start to depict images of Jesus on the cross? Some believe the early church avoided images of Jesus on the cross until the fourth or fifth century.
In “The Staurogram: Earliest Depiction of Jesus’ Crucifixion” in the March/April 2013 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review, Larry Hurtado highlights an early Christian crucifixion symbol that sets the date back by 150–200 years.
Larry Hurtado describes how a symbol known as a staurogram is created out of the Greek letters tau-rho: “In Greek, the language of the early church, the capital tau, or T, looks pretty much like our T. The capital rho, or R, however, is written like our P. If you superimpose the two letters, it looks something like this: 
. The earliest Christian uses of this tau-rho combination make up what is known as a staurogram. In Greek the verb to ‘crucify’ is stauroō; a ‘cross’ is a stauros … [these letters produce] a pictographic representation of a crucified figure hanging on a cross—used in the Greek words for ‘crucify’ and ‘cross.’”
The tau-rho staurogram is one of several christograms, or monogram-like devices, used by ancient Christians to refer to Jesus. However, Larry Hurtado points out that the staurogram only refers to the crucifixion, unlike others, which mention Jesus’ other characteristics. Also, the staurogram is visual—the tau-rho combinations create images of Jesus on the cross, making the staurogram the earliest Christian images of Jesus on the cross.
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The tau-rho staurogram, like other christograms, was originally a pre-Christian symbol. A Herodian coin featuring the Staurogram predates the crucifixion. Soon after, Christian adoption of staurogram symbols served as the first visual images of Jesus on the cross.
Larry Hurtado writes: “In time christograms came to be used not only in texts but as free-standing symbols of Christ or Christian faith, for example on liturgical vestments and church utensils. This was probably also true of the staurogram, tau-rho; where it would represent simply an independent symbol of Christ or Christian faith. But the earliest use of the tau-rho was as a visual reference to Jesus’ crucifixion. As such, it is the earliest surviving depiction of Jesus’ crucifixion.”
Subscribers: For more about the earliest Christian images of Jesus on the cross, read the full article “The Staurogram: Earliest Depiction of Jesus’ Crucifixion” by Larry Hurtado as it appears in the March/April 2013 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review.
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This Bible History Daily feature was originally published in March 2013.
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One interesting coincidence which I’m sure could lead to lots of unfounded speculation is that the tau-rho also looks remarkably like the Egyptian ankh. Seen out of context, of perhaps in the context of Coptic script, it would be hard to tell the difference.
Given the prevalence of Egyptian religious ideas, as well as various mystery religions, among the intelligentsia of the time, the ANKH would be as well known as some of the symbols and words from the Indian religions are known among American intellectuals today. So this may be an early instance of Christians “fitting in to take over” various pagan practices. The epistles and Acts portray some others, such as Paul’s speech on the Areopagus in Athens, the miracles about the birth of Jesus in Luke (giving Jesus signs of divinity akin to Greek heroes such as Heracles and Perseus). And of course, the Christianization of Europe, Latin America and the African slaves in Latin America involved taking over pagan festivals, re-attributing them to events in Christian history, and renaming pagan deities as saints of Christ (one reason there are so MANY saints). The Queen of Heaven, or Artemis of Ephesus, became the Virgin Mary in Greek folklore, and Hagia Sophia could mean EITHER “Holy Wisdom”, a personification of Wisdom as a metaphorical “goddess”, OR a female human saint named Sophia (the famous Byzantine cathedral is sometimes called Saint Sophia; Hagios/Hagia in Greek became Sanctus/Sancta in Latin, with the well known Romance derivatives leading to Norman French and then English “Saint”; I am not sure whether the purer Germanic tongues stick to their native word Heilig as the equivalent title).
So the use of the staurogram because it looked like an ANKH, possibly leading to questions about it, giving missionaries the chance to explain its NEW meaning, is certainly plausible. I am curious when the Chi-Rho symbol appeared to replace it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankh
Since the ankh symbolized to the ancient Egyptians the key to “eternal life”, it may be that first century Christians, whose ancient forefathers came out of Egypt, latched on to it because of the obvious connection to Jesus dying for our sins and being the “key” to our eternal life. One other purely speculative idea would be that since Abraham lived in Egypt for awhile, and being a “friend of God”, it may also have been revealed to Abraham (as God did regarding Sodom, Gen. 18:16-19) that a Messiah would come in the distant future, and die by crucifixtion for our sins. Was Abraham a “Gospel” witness for the one true God, and the potential for eternal life, to the ancient Egyptians? Perhaps, but like most nations who have been given the “Plan of God,” or the “Gospel of Truth,” it became corrupted over time. Yet, their are ancient Coptic writings that Egyptian Christians follow.
It seems to me there’s nothing special about Christograms. More often than not they were merely “borrowed” from non-Christians to serve their own religious purposes. This sort of thing happened so often and for such and extended period of time that people came to believe they originated with Christianity when, in point of fact, they did not.
I’m disappointed that the article does not touch on the actual usage of the symbol. I doubt I’m the only reader who would like to know whether the symbol was used (1) in place of tau, (2) in place of rho, (3) when tau and rho occurred together, (4) in place of Christ, (5) in place of Jesus, (1) in place of crucified, (6) as a stand-alone symbol, or what other purpose inclined the scribe to take the time to inscribe it. I’m surprised the writer didn’t think that was important.
Phil, you might want to check out Prof. Hurtado’s blog for articles and other publications that go into this in great detail:
http://larryhurtado.wordpress.com/
“Larry Hurtado describes how a symbol known as a staurogram is created out of the Greek letters tau-rho: “In Greek, the language of the early church, the capital tau, or T, looks pretty much like our T. The capital rho, or R, however, is written like our P. If you superimpose the two letters, it looks something like this….”
It, as others have mentioned, this staurogram, looks like the ancient ankh of Egypt that meant life. While Christ himself stood for the promise of eternal life. Since, Alexandria Egypt was a Greek speaking world of learning in the 1st century A.D. I don’t why Greek letters weren’t the norm since the Christian church in the early days was greatest in both Alexandria and Antioch another Greek speaking center. This does not mean that the Staurogram is in fact, a created out of superimposing two Greek letters instead of the using the Ankh.
In fact, upon considering the love of Greek thinkers to think, I bet they caught the fact that two Greek letters could represent the Ankh, meaning Life first if combined. Instead of looking for zebra’s, horses should be looked at first. Then a wide base of knowledge is needed not specialization.
IMPALEMENT:
(im·pale′ment).
In the literal sense, the fastening of a victim either dead or alive to a stake, or pole. The execution of Jesus Christ is the best-known case. (Lu 24:20; Joh 19:14-16; Ac 2:23, 36) Impalements by nations in ancient times were carried out in a variety of ways.
http://wol.jw.org/sv/wol/dsync/r14/lp-z/r1/lp-e/1200002159#h=0-1&selpar=0
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/s/r1/lp-e?q=IMPALEMENT&p=par&pg=1
Cross:
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/s/r1/lp-e?q=cross&p=par
stauros:
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/s/r1/lp-e?q=stauros&p=par
xy′lon:
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/s/r1/lp-e?q=xylon&p=par
The ankh and tau-rho are one and the same. Isis and Maria are one and the same. The ankh used by Isis and the rosary with cross are one and the same and they are both queen of heaven. Isis, Al-Uzza, Asteroth, Ashtarte, Black Madonna, Maria, Shakinah and the Holy Spirit of the trinity are one and the same.
The Bible’s answer
Many view the cross as the most common symbol of Christianity. However, the Bible does not describe the instrument of Jesus’ death, so no one can know its shape with absolute certainty. Still, the Bible provides evidence that Jesus died, not on a cross, but on an upright stake.
The Bible generally uses the Greek word stau·ros′ when referring to the instrument of Jesus’ execution. (Matthew 27:40; John 19:17) Although translations often render this word “cross,” many scholars agree that its basic meaning is actually “upright stake.” * According to A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament, stau·ros′ “never means two pieces of wood joining each other at any angle.”
The Bible also uses the Greek word xy′lon as a synonym for stau·ros′. (Acts 5:30; 1 Peter 2:24) This word means “wood,” “timber,” “stake,” or “tree.” * The Companion Bible thus concludes: “There is nothing in the Greek of the N[ew] T[estament] even to imply two pieces of timber.”
Is using the cross in worship acceptable to God?
A crux simplex—the Latin term for a single stake used for impalement of a criminal
Regardless of the shape of the instrument on which Jesus died, the following facts and Bible verses indicate that we should not use the cross in worship.
God rejects worship that uses images or symbols, including the cross. God commanded the Israelites not to use “the form of any symbol” in their worship, and Christians are likewise told to “flee from idolatry.”—Deuteronomy 4:15-19; 1 Corinthians 10:14.
First-century Christians did not use the cross in worship. * The teachings and example of the apostles set a pattern that all Christians should adhere to.—2 Thessalonians 2:15.
Use of the cross in worship has a pagan origin. * Hundreds of years after the death of Jesus, when the churches had deviated from his teachings, new church members “were permitted largely to retain their pagan signs and symbols,” including the cross. (The Expanded Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words) However, the Bible does not condone adopting pagan symbols to help make new converts.—2 Corinthians 6:17.