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Crux: Difference between revisions
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Crux can be found on the national flags of Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Brazil. The New Zealand flag depicts only the four brightest stars of the Cross, while the banners of the other nations also include the faintest fifth star (known as Epsilon Crucis). | Crux can be found on the national flags of Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Brazil. The New Zealand flag depicts only the four brightest stars of the Cross, while the banners of the other nations also include the faintest fifth star (known as Epsilon Crucis). | ||
In terms of cultural significance, the Crux, like all constellations, played an important role in the belief system of many cultures. In the ancient mountaintop village of Machu Picchu, a stone engraving exists which depicts the constellation. In addition, in Quechua (the language of the Incas) Crux is known as “Chakana”, which literally means “stair”, and holds deep symbolic value in Incan mysticism (the cross represented the three tiers of the world: the underworld, world of the living, and the heavens). To the Aborigines and the Maori, Crux is representative of animist spirits who play a central role in their ancestral beliefs. To the ancient Egyptians, Crux was the place where the Sun God Horus was crucified, and marked the passage of the winter season. <ref>[http://www.universetoday.com/85158/southern-cross-constellation/ Cross]</ref> | In terms of cultural significance, the [[Crux]], like all constellations, played an important role in the belief system of many cultures. In the ancient mountaintop village of [[Machu Picchu]], a stone engraving exists which depicts the constellation. In addition, in Quechua (the language of the Incas) [[Crux]] is known as “Chakana”, which literally means “stair”, and holds deep symbolic value in Incan mysticism (the cross represented the three tiers of the world: the underworld, world of the living, and the heavens). To the Aborigines and the Maori, Crux is representative of animist spirits who play a central role in their ancestral beliefs. To the ancient [[Egyptians]], [[Crux]] was the place where the Sun God Horus was crucified, and marked the passage of the winter season. <ref>[http://www.universetoday.com/85158/southern-cross-constellation/ Cross]</ref> | ||
==Etymology== | ==Etymology== | ||