Precious Crucifix engraved with fine details. At the four ends of the Cross there are the symbols of the Four Evangelist: Matthew, the author of the first gospel, is symbolized by a winged man, Mark is symbolized by a winged lion, Luke is symbolized by a winged ox or bull, john is symbolized by an eagle.
The origins of the symbols are connected to the opening image of their gospels. Mathew begins his account of the life of Christ by writing of his ancestry & hence, has as his symbol, a winged man. Luke starts his book with Zachariah (father of St John the Baptist) making a sacrifice in the Holy of Holies temple, so he is shown with a bull, which is traditionally an animal used in religious sacrifice. St Mark has the winged lion, as he begins his gospel with St John the Baptist ‘preaching like a lion roaring’. John begins his book with ‘In the beginning was the word and the word was God’. The eagle soars at high altitudes, it is sharp-sighted. John starts with an eternal overview of Jesus the Logos and goes on to describe many things with a "higher" level than the other three gospels; it represents Jesus' Ascension, and Christ's divine nature.