Arrow Cross

A cross whose arms end in arrowheads is called a "cross barby" or "cross barbée" in the traditional terminology of heraldry. In Christian use, the ends of this cross resemble the barbs of fish hooks, or fish spears. This alludes to the Ichthys symbol of Christ, and is suggestive of the "fishers of men" theme in the Gospel.

An Arrow Cross, or Cross Barby

Arrow Cross Party insignia

In modern use, the symbol has become associated with extremist organisations after the Arrow Cross (Nyilaskereszt) symbol was used in Hungary in the 1930s and 1940s as the symbol of a Hungarist political party, the Arrow Cross Party.[1] The symbol consists of two green double-ended arrows in a cross configuration on a white circular background. The arrow cross symbol remains outlawed in Hungary.[2]

A similar symbol, the Crosstar, is used by the Nationalist Movement, a white supremacist group based in the United States.

Arrow cross previously used by the Falange Venezolana (Venezuelan Phalanx), a far-right group based in Venezuela.[3]

The Royal Cambodian Army's 911 Special Forces Regiment uses arrow cross symbol in their insignia.

See also

• Arrow Cross Party

References

1. Arrow Cross Symbols Archived May 25, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
2. "Act C of 2012 on the Criminal Code, Section 335: Use of Symbols of Totalitarianism" (PDF). Ministry of Interior of Hungary. p. 97. Retrieved 21 February 2017. Any person who: a) distributes, b) uses before the public at large, or c) publicly exhibits, the swastika, the insignia of the SS, the arrow cross, the sickle and hammer, the five-pointed red star or any symbol depicting the above so as to breach public peace – specifically in a way to offend the dignity of victims of totalitarian regimes and their right to sanctity – is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by custodial arrest, insofar as they did not result in a more serious criminal offense.
3. "Venezuela - Political Flags - Part 2". fotw.info. Retrieved 3 May 2020.