orb

Imperial Orb of the Holy Roman Empire, part of the Imperial Regalia The globus cruciger (Latin for 'cross-bearing orb'), also known as "the orb and cross" or stavroforos sphaira (Greek: σταυροφόρος σφαίρα), is an orb surmounted by a cross. It has been a Christian symbol of authority since the Middle Ages, used on coins, in iconography, and with a sceptre as royal regalia.

The cross laid over the globus represents Christ's dominion over the world, literally held in the hand of a worthy earthly ruler. In the iconography of Western art, when Christ himself holds the globe, he is called Salvator Mundi (Latin for 'Saviour of the World'). For instance, the 16th-century Infant Jesus of Prague statue holds a globus cruciger in this manner.