As far back as old Egyptian civilization, the basic characteristics of silver that include brightness, color, and softness, have been recognized for antiquity. Silver was used for the creation of decorative objects that were related to religion such as the silver cross, and it was very rare; therefore, it was called "white gold". Another nickname for silver was "lunar metal" due to its coldness and luminescence similar to the moon's reflection on water. Those individuals that owned silver were thought to live comfortably and to be wealthy.
Throughout history, craftsman working with Silver, or silversmiths, have created designs that reflect individual’s tastes and a changing society, which includes the silver cross. Silver is one of the most useful metals in the world, and has many uses, which include industry, decorative arts, and photography. This metal is the world’s best conductor of electricity and heat. It’s used by mints to produce coins and bullion, by silversmiths to create jewelry and silverware, and by companies that manufacture photographic film. Most coins have a 90% concentration of Silver with 10% being Copper that is added for strength. Mixtures used for dentistry and electrical contacts use various Silver alloys. Silver Halides that are sensitive to light are found in photographic.
Silver jewelry dating back to the beginning of 3000 BC was found in some modern day burial excavations of the ancient Sumerian city of Ur. Mines around Anatolia, which is the area around modern day Turkey, were considered the first major sources of Silver. In 2500 BC, the Chaldeans were the first culture to extract the metal Silver from other ores.
During the 10th Century, the word “cross� was introduced to the English language. It was a term for the instrument used for the execution of Christ, and replaced the earlier word which was “rood" and the Latin word “crux�. Today, the word refers to a geometrical shape unrelated to its Christian significance.
The silver cross is a geometrical figure that consists of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other, which divide one or two of the lines in half. Usually, the lines run vertically and horizontally. If they run diagonally, the design is called a saltire. Written crosses are most often used in mathematics. The Roman Numeral for 10 is “X� and the plus sign in addition is “+�. As a check mark, a cross can be clearer, easier to create with a pen or pencil, and less obscuring of the text or image. On a map, it marks a position more accurately than a large dot. If a large cross traverses text on a paper, it usually means it is wrong and should be deleted.
The first known symbol drawn by children on rock walls are circles, which are followed by crosses. Revered as one of the most ancient human symbols, the cross is used by many religions, most notably Christianity. It represents the division of the world into four elements, which are solid/earth, liquid/water, gas/air, and plasma/fire, or cardinal points, which is the geographic orientation of the Earth: north, south, east, and west. The silver cross also represents the union of the concepts of divinity, the vertical line, and the world, the horizontal line. The Latin cross or “crux ordinaria� is the most common symbol of Christianity.
A common symbol of Christianity, the silver cross can be handmade or sand cast. Sand mold casting or a sand casting is a cast part produced by forming a mold from a sand mixture and pouring a molten liquid metal into the cavity in the mold. When the mold cools, the metal solidifies, and the casting is separated from the mold. The silver cross can be etched, stamped, or inlaid with turquoise, coral, malachite, mother of pearl, jet and other semi-precious stones.
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