E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Cross and Ball,
so universally marked on Egyptian figures, is a circle and the letter \??\. The circle signifies the eternal preserver of the world, and the \??\ is the monogram of Thoth, the Egyptian Mercury, meaning wisdom.
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The coronation orb is a sphere or ball surmounted by a cross, an emblem of empire introduced in representations of our Saviour. In this case the cross stands above the ball, to signify that the spiritual power is above the temporal.
