Rites of Love and Spade

By: Charz

Dec 30 2011

Tags: ☧, Cantabrian Wars, Celts, Chi Rho, Chiri Kitsu, Christmas, Hispania, Iberia, In hoc signo vinces, Labarum, Marina Inoue, Saint Constantine, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, Shovel, Sol Invictus, Spade, Staurogram, Strabo, Suicide, Vexillum, X-mas, Yew

Category: Funny, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei

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Chiri Santa by Meison

Chi-Rho

The labarum was a vexillum that displayed the “Chi-Rho” symbol ☧, formed from the first two Greek letters of the word “Christ” (Greek: ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ, or Χριστός) — Chi (χ) and Rho (ρ). It was used by the Roman emperor Saint Constantine. Since the vexillum consisted of a flag suspended from the crossbar of a cross, it was ideally suited to symbolize the crucifixion of Christ.

The Chi Rho is one of the earliest forms of christogram, and is used by Christians. It is formed by superimposing the first two (capital) letters chi and rho (ΧΡ) of the Greek word “ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ” =Christ in such a way to produce the monogram ☧. Although not technically a cross, the Chi Rho invokes the crucifixion of Jesus as well as symbolizing his status as the Christ.

The etymology of the word labarum is unclear; it is perhaps to be derived from Latin /labāre/ ‘to totter, to waver’ (in the sense of the “waving” of a flag in the breeze). Other proposals include a derivation from Celtic llafar (“eloquent”), from the Latin laureum [vexillum] (“laurel standard”) or from ancient Cantabri dialect labaro (‘four heads’) (in modern-day Basque the word is lauburu, with the same meaning), an ancient celtic symbol taken by the Legions during the Cantabrian Wars.

Cantabrian Wars
The Cantabrian Wars (29 BC-19 BC) occurred during the Roman conquest of the modern provinces of Cantabria, Asturias and León, against the Asturs and the Cantabri. They were the final stage of the conquest of Hispania.

In this conflict, unusually, the Romans chose not to take prisoners. Moreover, there was a tradition among the Cantabri of preferring suicide to slavery. They did this by sword, by fire, or, primarily, by poisoning themselves with potions made for the purpose. According to Silius Italicus they used a concoction made from the seeds of the yew tree, a plant with mythic significance for the Celts. Strabo said that they belittled death and pain, to the point of singing hymns of victory while being crucified. For them, according to Strabo, to die as soldiers and free men was a victory.

Through the Cantabrian War and the surrender of the Astures to Rome, the Roman legions adopted from them the solar symbol of twin crosses and lunar symbols, such as the Cantabri lábaro. They would still be carrying this standard 300 years later.

(wiki)

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