Shape of the cross

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What was the actual shape of the crucifixion cross?
Some interesting connections arise when the cross has the shape of a "tee" or "T" as in Greek letter "τ" or "Τ" (tau) as related by Barnabas and some other Roman writers. The impression of the traditional shape could come from the addition of a "title" (and supporting piece) placed above to describe the crime.

"χριστός" ≈ "Christ" as in "anointed one".
"χρηστός" ≈ "useful" and appears as a play on words by both Jesus and Paul.
"χρυσός" ≈ "gold".

In particular, in Greek, if the "t" or "tau" or "cross" is removed from "Christ" one gets a play on words of "gold". This may or may not have significance.

More: A golden cross down to the tee

Let us investigate.

The crucifixion cross appears to have been a wooden main beam with a cross piece that formed the shape of a "T" or "tee". There are Latin writings that support this idea. Some scholars hold to the idea of the "cross" being a "stake" (without the cross-beam).

The ancient Greek word "σταυρός" ≈ "cross" and is related to the English word "stake" from the Middle English word "stour" ≈ "stake, pole".
The ancient Greek word "ψύλον" ≈ "wood" is used in the GNT (Greek New Testament) to describe the "wood".
The Latin word "crux" ≈ "crucifixion cross" or any wooden frame used for crucifixion of criminals.

The letter "T" in the name of Christ and representing the cross is important here. Further discussion of the shape is delayed.

Details are left as a future topic.

Somewhere between 40 and 100 years after the crucifixion, and while crucifixion was still used by the Romans, Barnabas compares the shape of the cross to the Greek letter "T" which is not the traditional shape of the Christian cross.
The Greek letter "T" had a gematria value of 300.

English: And because the cross, which is shaped like the T, was destined to convey grace, it mentions also the "three hundred". (Holmes, 2007, p. 409)

Greek: ὅτι δὲ ὁ σταυρὸς ἐν τῷ ταῦ ἤμελλεν ἔχειν τὴν χάριν, λέγει καὶ τοὺς τριακοσίους. [9.8]

Justin Martyr (100–165) explicitly says the cross of Christ was of two-beam shape: "That lamb which was commanded to be wholly roasted was a symbol of the suffering of the cross which Christ would undergo". Wikipedia.

More: Epistle of Barnabas

Genesis 14:14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. [kjv]

ακουσας δε αβραμ οτι ηχμαλωτευται λωτ ο αδελφος αυτου ηριθμησεν τους ιδιους οικογενεις αυτου τριακοσιους δεκα και οκτω και κατεδιωξεν οπισω αυτων εως δαν [lxx]

Using Greek gematria, Barnabas makes the connection of the "cross" and first two letters of "Jesus" to the story of Abraham and the number 318.

300: "τ" : "Τ" : "tau" : shape of the cross
10: "ι" : "Ι" : "iota" : first letter of "Jesus"
8: "η" : "Η" : "eta" : second letter of "Jesus"
"ιησούς" ≈ "Jesus"
"ΙΗΣΟΥΣ" ≈ "Jesus"

Is it reasonable to create a symbol or connection with an abbreviation of the name "Jesus" in Greek as "ΙΗ" or "ΙΗΣ"?

More: Epistle of Barnabas

Genesis 14:14

All

KJV: And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.

Hebrew: וישמע אברם כי נשבה אחיו וירק את חניכיו ילידי ביתו שמנה עשר ושלש מאות וירדף עד דן׃

Greek: ακουσας δε αβραμ οτι ηχμαλωτευται λωτ ο αδελφος αυτου ηριθμησεν τους ιδιους οικογενεις αυτου τριακοσιους δεκα και οκτω και κατεδιωξεν οπισω αυτων εως δαν

Jesus is the "alpha" and the "omega", the "first" and the "last".

Revelation 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. [kjv]

εγω το αλφα και το ω ο πρωτος και ο εσχατος η αρχη και το τελος [gnt]

"Α" ≈ "alpha" is the first letter of the Greek alphabet.

"Ω" ≈ "omega" is the last letter of the Greek alphabet.

The Chrismon "IHS" is often taken to say "In His Service". "ΙΗΣΟΥΣ" ≈ "Jesus" which, in English, is "IHSOUS". The first three letters are (uppercase) "IHS" or (lowercase) "ihs".

More: Chrismons

Revelation 22:13

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KJV: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Greek: εγω ειμι το α αλφα και το ω αρχη και τελος ο ο πρωτος και ο εσχατος η αρχη και το τελος

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Numbers 2:4 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred. [kjv]

The book of Numbers is named for the detailed census appearing in Numbers 2. The details can be boring but are part of an "algorithm" provided by God for their camp in the desert.
If the Israelites in the desert had followed the "algorithm" provided by God as how to precisely camp, their camp would have been laid out in the shape of a cross from the point of view of the "rising sun" in the morning.

More: Numbers 2: Algorithms and the camp of Israel

Numbers 21:8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. [kjv]

και ειπεν κυριος προς μωυσην ποιησον σεαυτω οφιν και θες αυτον επι σημειου και εσται εαν δακη οφις ανθρωπον πας ο δεδηγμενος ιδων αυτον ζησεται [lxx]

What does the "serpent" represent? What does the "pole" represent?

John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: [kjv]

και καθως μωυσης υψωσεν τον οφιν εν τη ερημω ουτως υψωθηναι δει τον υιον του ανθρωπου [gnt]

3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. [kjv]

ινα πας ο πιστευων εν αυτω εχη ζωην αιωνιον [gnt]

More: Numbers 21: Fiery serpent on a pole in the wilderness