What Is The Meaning Of Ankh – Ancient Egyptian Symbol

A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - Different people have different religions. Each religion has its symbols and characteristic signs.

Egyptian Ankh. Image credit: Nachbarnebenan - Public Domain

Just as the symbol of Christianity has become the cross, known in several variants, and before it was a fish sign, so is the Ankh, a symbol of the ancient religion of Egypt.

Many Interpretations Of The Ankh

Some interpret this symbol according to its two parts – the oval shape symbolizes the eternity of living deities, and the cross that comes out of it is continuation and extension.

In Egyptian hieroglyphs since the Old Kingdom period, the Ankh symbolized life but not the 'life' (this everyday, ordinary life) we think of. The ancient Egyptians associated the Ankh with the soul's spiritual life, which most do not even think about daily.

But the Ankh is also the subject of other interpretations. It combines the two forces of life - the male and female symbols of Osiris and Isis.

It is the union between heaven and earth and unifying feminine and masculine principles.

First Dynasty stone dish in the shape of an ankh, embraced by a pair of hands representing ka.Image credit: Soutekh67 - CC BY-SA 4.0.

It also symbolized fertility as the sign's loop was associated with a woman's womb. Later, the Ankh was given a magical meaning as it was believed it possessed a mystic vital force.

Mystics and enthusiasts of secret knowledge in the 19th century and even the 20th century's New Age movements have considered the Ankh a powerful symbol of prosperity, health, good fortune, and protection against defeat, fall, and destruction.

Ankh Was Associated With Many Egyptian Deities

There are many depictions of Egyptian deities holding the Ankh. Maat, the goddess of truth, holds an ankh in her hand; however, the goddess Isis is most often seen carrying it. Also, Atum, the god of the sun from Heliopolis, and Sekhmet, a warrior goddess and a goddess of healing, were often depicted with the Ankh.

There are also representations of the pharaoh who stands between the gods and holds the Ankh in his palm. In this case, the sign emphasizes the pharaoh's divine nature.

Ankh Decorated Walls Of Egyptian Temples

In Egyptian tomb paintings and other art, the Ankh appears frequently. As a symbol of imperishable vital force, the Ankh was painted on the walls of the temples, stelae, and in friezes of objects, especially near the feet, to provide divine protection to the dead.

It often appears at the fingertips of a god or goddess in images representing the afterlife's deities conferring the gift of life on the dead person's mummy.

Left: Frieze of ankh, signs of djed and was at the top of the hieroglyph "all". Image credit: Ancient sculptor unknown; original photograph by Olaf Tausch. CC BY-SA 2.5; Right: Hathor presents the ankh to Queen Nefertari Merenmut. Scene from her tomb QV66, 13th century (19th) - Image upploader - Ramsis1978 - public domain

Numerous depictions show a symbolic combination of water and air in scenes when a god holds the Ankh before the king's nose, giving him the 'breath of life, or when a stream of water forming the Ankh runs over the king during ceremonial purification.

The Ankh is also known as the Egyptian Cross or crux ansata, which in Latin means "cross with a handle."

When Christianity came to Egypt, the ancient Egyptian symbol of Ankh was taken over by the fourth-century Coptic Christians, and their church adopted the Ankh as its unique form of the Christian cross because of its cruciform shape.

Interestingly, the Ankh, symbolizing life and accompanied by a two-winged sun and wings turned downward, was depicted on an impression of the royal seal of King Hezekiah (727–698 BC).

The artifact was unearthed during the Ophel excavations at the foot of the Temple Mount in 2015.

Ankh Is A Good Amulet – But Not For Everyone

The Ankh is a suitable amulet for those who wish to demonstrate their spiritual rather than religious beliefs.

The royal seal of Hezekiah, king of Judah. The ankh is clearly visible. Photo: Courtesy of Dr. Eilat Mazar/ Ouria Tadmor

Otherwise, the Ankh is the attribute of the god Amun ('the hidden one'), King of the Gods, one of the most powerful gods in Egypt. Egyptians frequently carried it as an amulet, sometimes accompanied by two other hieroglyphs symbolizing 'strength' and 'health. Ancient Egyptian mirrors were often shaped as the Ankh.

This universal symbol has accompanied and influenced humanity in all ages and continues to influence modern people.

The Ankh is one of many important ancient Egyptian symbols.

Written by – A. Sutherland  AncientPages.com Staff Writer

Updated on Sep 21, 2023

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