The Unusual
Often made today by village artisans in so-called pot silver, Ethiopian Coptic crosses appear in seemingly endless styles but each weaves a similar tale. The Egyptian Coptic Christians are believed to have come to the highlands of Ethiopian in the 4th century. To symbolize their faith, the Copts made their own cross by layering a Christian cross over the Egyptian ankh symbol with its circle signifying the sun at the top. Ethiopians began to learn about the newcomers' faith and wear the symbol, too. Ethiopian metal smiths first hammered out crosses as rather simple circles atop a cross form. In the centuries following, the cross designs became intricate, almost Celtic.
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