beginning of our era, the Christians paid homage to the Lord under the
symbol of the fish; but ultimately going into desuetude, the lamb was
retained as the distinguishing symbol of the Christian religion until
the year 680, at which date another was substituted, as will be shown
under our next heading.



SIGNS OP THE CROSS.

Among the numerous symbols of solar worship, besides those we have
already referred to, there are three to which we will direct attention.
Two of these were of astronomical signification: the one adopted when
the Spring Equinox was in the sign of Taurus and shaped like the letter
T, was the model after which the ancient temples were built; and the
other, shaped like the letter X, in reference to the angle of 23 1/2
degrees made by the crossing of the Ecliptic and the Celestial equator,
is known as St. Andrew's Cross. The third, and most important of all
the symbols of solar worship, in its relation to the Christian
religion, which, having no astronomical signification, originated in
Egypt, in reference to the annual inundation of the river Nile. To mark
the height to which the water should rise to secure an abundant
harvest, posts were planted upon its banks to which cross beams were
attached thus +. If the water should rise to the designated height, it
was called "the waters of life," or "river of life;" and, ultimately,
this form of the cross was adopted as the symbol of the life to come,
or eternal life; and the ancient astrologers had it engraved upon
stone, encircled with a hieroglyphical inscription to that effect, one
of which was discovered in the ruins of the temple erected at
Alexandria, and dedicated to "our Lord and Saviour Serapis."