Additional information: The cross is among the most easily identifiable of visual symbols. Crosses like this one are evidence of the long history of Christianity in Ethiopia. These individual Coptic crosses are cast and made  in various styles, designs, and sizes. They can be  hand-cut from various metal--silver, iron, gold and brass--and cast using the lost wax method. Some Ethiopian crosses are made out of wood. Designs are as varied as the regions they come from, and crosses are generally named after the towns or provinces where they are made. The use of these crosses is essentially religious. Small crosses are worn by men and women as pectoral or neck pendants. For more than 1,600 years, Ethiopians have worn neck crosses. Most often, they are given at baptism and are worn as badges or symbols of faith. Crosses like this are known as processional crosses. They do have base  and  are carried during religious services. Each cross is individual. The designs vary from one cross to another. No two are crosses are the same as they are handmade.