Truly Maltese
According to David Wirrich of the St John's Ambulance Brigade, the Maltese Cross is "officially" known as the "Amalfi Cross" since it was adopted by the Hospitaller knights from their Amalfi contacts, while in Jerusalem (July 3). From images I have...
According to David Wirrich of the St John's Ambulance Brigade, the Maltese Cross is "officially" known as the "Amalfi Cross" since it was adopted by the Hospitaller knights from their Amalfi contacts, while in Jerusalem (July 3). From images I have seen of the 11th century Amalfi symbol, this was not even a cross, being four disjointed Vs in square formation.
Secondly, the Catholic encyclopedia discounts the much repeated myth of the Amalfi origins of the Hospitallers (www.new advent.org).
And, thirdly, genuine pre-Malta depictions of knights were shown wearing the Cross Formée or the Cross Molinee. Even the St John Ambulance website (www.sja.org.uk) shows a 13th century knight with a Cross Molinee! Just because this has eight points does not make it the Maltese Cross.
The same site points out that the cross assumed the shape we know today as the Maltese Cross while the knights were in Malta. It must then be truly Maltese!