The Petrine Cross: Sacred Symbol or Satanic Sign?

What is the Petrine Cross?

You may not know what the Petrine Cross is. It’s the inverted cross — yeah, the same one plastered all over horror movies, metal band logos, and creepy occult scenes. But here’s the thing: its real story is almost the exact opposite of how most people see it today.

Origins

The origins behind this cross are honestly fascinating. Despite its sinister reputation now, it wasn’t born out of darkness at all.

The inverted cross became tied to St. Peter — the apostle who, according to Christian tradition, was crucified in Rome. Early writings like the Acts of Peter (2nd century) tell us Peter didn’t feel worthy to die in the same way as Jesus. So he asked to be crucified upside down.

Writers like Origen (3rd century) and Jerome (4th century) passed that story along, and it became powerful tradition. For centuries, the upside-down cross represented humility and devotion. In fact, in Catholic imagery, the inverted cross sometimes appears in connection with the papacy, since the Pope is seen as Peter’s successor.

Seen through this lens, the cross isn’t evil at all — it’s a reminder of lowering yourself in humility, of choosing Christ’s way over the world’s way.

Why is the Petrine Cross the official symbol of the devil?

So how did this symbol of humility get flipped (literally) into a symbol of evil?

That part didn’t happen until much later. In the 19th century, some fringe occult groups and writers began inverting Christian symbols as a form of mockery or rebellion. By the 20th century, the upside-down cross had seeped into popular culture.

Horror movies in particular latched onto it. Want a quick way to tell the audience “a demon is here”? Turn the cross upside down. Heavy metal bands picked it up too, using it as a shock factor to scream rebellion against religious norms.

From there, it stuck. To most people today, an inverted cross instantly screams “satanic,” even though that’s never what it originally meant.

Here’s the wild part: both meanings now exist side by side.

• In a cathedral, you might see the inverted cross carved into a chair associated with the Pope, a subtle nod to St. Peter. It’s quiet, reverent, and rooted in faith.
• In a horror film, you might see that same shape burned into a wall or flipping upside down on its own, dripping with menace. It’s meant to unsettle, to symbolize everything opposite of holy.

One is sacred. The other is terrifying. Same symbol, two worlds apart.