Ethiopian crosses have played a major role in the religious, cultural and social life of the Ethiopians, Crosses were first depicted on Aksumite coins dating back to the 4th century AD. Individual crosses such as the ones depicted are cast and carved in many different styles, ranging from materials such as gold, silver, bronze, iron, brass and wood, many were made by using the lost wax method or cut from a Maria Theresa dollar.

The processional crosses comprise of three basic features, the basic cross itself , a hollow shaft were it could be mounted on to a pole or handle and two lower arms which served to be held by cloth normally of the sacred colour blue to be hung about the neck.

Hand crosses: which are considerably more numerous than the processional crosses were carried by all the priests either in their hand or worn around the neck on meeting the faithful they would hold the hand cross for those seeking blessing to kiss it ritually. The hand crosses usually had a long slim handle where it could be held which linked to a base, this took the form of a solid cube or a flat rectangular plate, which might be inscribed with the name of the owner, the cube also served for tying a blue cloth around so it too could be worn by the owner.

The neck crosses were probably the most common form of cross in Ethiopia being worn by all the faithful and were normally given at baptism and worn for life, these crosses became more elaborate and had styles that were very similar to Egyptian and Celtic cultures, complicated openwork patterns of endless interwoven lines symbolising eternity became very popular.