Maltese Cross Definition

Its design is based on crosses used since the first crusade.

Maltese cross definition. Used as an emblem of christianity or in heraldry. One of lithuania s premier symbols of resistance to both czarist and soviet oppression is the hill of crosses where lithuanians began leaving crosses after the 1831 uprising against czarist rule and where they continued to leave tens of thousands of crosses even after the soviets bulldozed the hill several times. The definition of a maltese cross is the symbol for a christian order known as the knights hospitaller that was established in the mid 16th century in malta by charles v of spain. It is a heraldic cross variant which developed from earlier forms of eight pointed crosses in the 16th century.

The cross is eight pointed and has the form of four v shaped elements joined together at their tips so that each arm has two points. The maltese cross also known as the amalfi cross is the cross symbol associated with the knights hospitaller and by extension with the island of malta. A cross with arms of equal length which broaden from the centre and have their ends indented in a shallow v shape. Malta s flag bears the george cross awarded to the whole island by george vi for its gallantry in world war ii and malta has been symbolized for centuries by the maltese cross.

Definition of maltese cross 1 a. Maltese cross definition a cross having four equal arms that expand in width outward. A cross formée b. A cross with four equal parts that get wider further from the centre.

A cross that resembles the cross formée but has the outer face of each arm indented in a v see cross illustration. The maltese cross is a cross symbol consisting of four v or arrowhead shaped concave quadrilaterals converging at a central vertex at right angles two tips pointing outward symmetrically. Formerly worn by the knights of malta. In allegory of the faith alone a pattern of what can be read as white maltese crosses each made from five tiles is set on a black background.