Ethiopia has been a Christian nation since the 4th C. Crosses similar to these were mounted on staffs and carried during processionals or displayed on altars. They are individually cast in Ethiopia from a silver alloy and can stand on their own without bases. The designs on the back sides are similar to those on the front but usually with fewer incised lines. There is no reason to believe that the crosses on this page were ever used in religious services.
NOTE: These photographs represent typical designs; minor variations may exist in individual crosses.