[446] _Ibid._, No. 26. With true archæological enthusiasm, De Rossi exclaims, “Scarcely any monument in this whole class is worthy of such observation as this sepulchral fragment. For if indeed this name is that of Gallus, the colleague of Faustus, behold, what I have ever intensely desired, I have at length with joy obtained--to see with my own eyes a certain dated monument which exhibits the celebrated monogram ☧ before the year 312. Would that I could find the part of the inscription that is lost,” he adds, “which, if it bore the name of Faustus, I would esteem more precious than gold and gems--auro contra et gemmis cariorem æstimarem.” But he was not permitted to be so happy, and it is probable that the Gallus referred to is another of much later date. [447] Rev. i, 8. Prudentius in his ninth hymn paraphrases the same thought: Alpha et Ω cognominatus; ipse fons et clausula Omnium quæ sunt, fuerunt, quæque post futura sunt. In Mediæval art the letters ὁ ὤν are often inscribed on the cruciform nimbus indicating Our Lord, in allusion to the scripture, ἐγὼ εἰμὶ ὁ ὤν--“I am that I am.” [448] Christus purpureum gemmanti textus in auro, Signabat labarum, clypeorum insignia Christus Scripserat: ardebat summis crux addita cristis. --_In Symmachum_, vv. 487-489. [449] _Hist. of Christianity_, bk. iii, chap. i. From the time of Constantine the monogram became common on the coins of the Empire. Valentinian III. and his wife Eudoxia first wore it on the imperial crown. In later Greek art the cross is generally accompanied by the letters ΙϹ-ΧϹ ΝΙΚΑ, that is, “Jesus Christ is conqueror.” Eusebius describes a statue of Constantine at Rome bearing this monogram. (_Hist. Eccles._, ix, 9.) [450] See Fig. 104, chap. iv. Paulinus refers to the bitter cross surrounded by a flowery crown: Ardua floriferæ Crux cingitur orbe coronæ. --Epis. xii, _ad Severum_. [451] De Rossi, _Inscrip. Christ._, No. 576. Of course there may be earlier examples which are undated. [452] In later art ingenuity was exhausted in multiplying varieties of the form of the cross. Besides the ordinary Greek and Latin types, there was the Resurrection cross, a reed-like shaft with a small crosslet, generally bearing a banneret; the Calvary cross, with steps at its foot; the _crux gammata_, or fourfold repetition of the Greek letter Γ, the _crux gemmata_, _stellata_, _florida_, etc. There were also innumerable minor varieties for which distinguishing names are provided in the jargon of heraldry. [453] _Hist. Christianity_, iii, 3. Eusebius is silent concerning this event.