, as I have already said, is supposed to be derived
directly from the lotus. The Egyptians formed it from the bud and
blossom; and the pattern is found in India, Greece, and Rome, changing
continually and yet retaining its identity. Vitruvius claimed to have
given it the last touch and finish, so that in Italy it was called the
Vitruvian scroll; and it is common to all decoration, even in
textiles, though it is hardly suited for weaving or embroidery. This
is one of the earliest patterns which, having ceased long ago to be a
religious emblem or sign, still survives by its decorative fitness,
and perpetuates the echoes of its origin.

[Illustration: Pl. 25.
TYPICAL CROSSES.
1. Swastika. 2. From a Greek Vase, 765 B.C. 3. Indian Sectarial
Mark of Sakti race. 4. Buddhist and Jainis mark. 5. Early
Rhodian Pottery. 6. Egyptian prehistoric Cross. 7. Tau Cross.
8. Mark of land, Egyptian and Ninevite. 9. Ditto. 10. Clavus.
11, 12, 13. Scandinavian Sun and Moon Crosses. 14, 15, 16.
Celtic. 17. Chrysoclavus. 18, 19. Stauracin patterns. 20.
Scandinavian, from Norway. 21. Runic Cross. 22. Cross at
Palenque, in Temple of the Sun. 23. Scotch Celtic Cross. 24.
Cross from Iona. 25, 26. Runic Crosses. 27. Cross on the
Dalmatic of Charlemagne. 28. From the Mantle of Henry II.,
Emperor of Germany.]

Of the conventional symbolical forms of the early Christian Church I
shall speak more fully in the chapter on ecclesiastical art, and
therefore would only point out here, while touching on symbolical
decoration, how that phase of Christian art is a great historical
instance of the deep ancient meanings it illustrates; showing the
motive to be often in accordance with the inherited pagan symbol, and
yet differing from it. Pre-eminent among these is the emblem of the
Cross, so early and universally used, full of mysterious secret
allusions to the groping faiths of idolatrous nations, before the
great fundamental idea of the "Word" was attached to it. This was one
of the old signs used as a pattern, and transfigured into a fresh
type, of which the radiance reflected back light upon all that
preceded it, even as Chinese ancestors are ennobled by the deeds
of their descendants.

[Illustration: Pl. 26.
1. Pallas Athene, from a vase in Lord Northampton's Collection.
2. Ajax in a cloak embroidered with swastika, sun cross, and
prehistor