In This Sign Conquer

Now it was made in the following manner. A long spear, overlaid with gold, formed the figure of the cross by means of a transverse bar laid over it. On the top of the whole was fixed a wreath of gold and precious stones; and within this, the symbol of the Saviour's name, two letters indicating the name of Christ by means of its initial characters, the letter P being intersected by X in its centre:* and these letters the emperor was in the habit of wearing on his helmet at a later period. From the cross-bar of the spear was suspended a cloth, a royal piece, covered with a profuse embroidery of most brilliant precious stones; and which, being also richly interlaced with gold, presented a indescribable degree of beauty to the beholder. This banner was of a square form, and the upright staff, whose lower section was of great length, bore a golden half-length portrait of the pious emperor and his children on its upper part, beneath the trophy of the cross, and immediately above the embroidered banner.

The emperor constantly made use of this sign of salvation as a safeguard against every adverse and hostile power, and commanded that others similar to it should be carried at the head of all his armies.

From the ‘Ecclesiastical History: A History of the Church in Nine Books, from AD 324 to AD 440’ (AD ?443) of Sozomen (Salamanes Hermias Sozomenos, AD 400-450), translated (1846) by Edward Walford (1823-1897).

* This is not an English PX but a Greek ΡΧ, rho-chi, the first two letters (in reverse order) of the title Χριστός, literally ‘the anointed one’ or in Hebrew ‘the messiah’. The Ρ is given a long stem and the Χ is superimposed upon it.


The coffin of St Cuthbert of Lindisfarne (who died in AD 687) is inscribed with runes representing both IHS and PXS, ᛁᚻᛋ ᛉᛈᛋ. The additional S comes from adding the final letter of the Greek title Χριστός.

Précis
Eusebius, who had seen it, described the banner in detail. Atop a cruciform standard, overlaid with gold, was a golden wreath encrusted with gems bearing the Chi-Rho symbol. Beneath that was fixed a depiction of Constantine and his family, and a richly-embroidered square pennant hung from the horizontal bar. Constantine carried this standard into many battles as protection.
Questions for Critics

1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?

2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?

3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?

Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.

Sevens

Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.

What was placed right at the top of the long spear?

Suggestion

A jewelled wreath bearing the Chi-Rho monogram.

Jigsaws

Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.

Constantine carried a standard into battle. Eusebius saw it. He described it.

See if you can include one or more of these words in your answer.

IEye. IIMemory. IIIPaint.

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