Variations of the Greek Alpha

**epidecus** · August 22nd, 2012, 06:16 PM

Why do some Chi Rho symbols have this weird version of the Greek Alpha?

In case you're wondering, Chi Rho's are Christian symbols that represent Jesus, in specific reference to Revelation's description of the Lord as "the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last". So the symbols are supposed to have an Alpha on the left and an Omega on the right. I'm only familiar with the modern

. I don't know if there are some archaic versions of the letter but even after doing some research I can't find any of these strange letters in association with Alpha.

1) alpha2.jpg 2) alpha.jpg

The former looks like Lambda, but since it's supposed to be Alpha, I really don't know. The latter I can't find anywhere, so any explanation of what it is would be greatly appreciated. That's why I suspect these are from the archaic Greek.

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**question for you** · August 23rd, 2012, 03:42 AM

I don't know about the alpha symbols you've pasted...but I did hear that the letter A used to be displayed upside down and represent a bulls head, a symbol of strength. I think this was egyptian. The greeks turned it upside down and called it Alpha.

What was it I heard about the chi rho labarum... it's an egyption sun worship symbol is it not? hence cairo... hence the markings indicating the shadows of an obelisk at key points of the year. sunrise and sunset on winter and summer solstices as well as the sprong and autumn equinox. A pretty old chrest(o).

Item 1 in your post looks like a blend between a pyramid and a obelisk. The second one looks like a masonic symbol.