Ancient Egyptian
Ankh
The key of eternal life
The Ankh is the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic symbol for life. With its distinctive loop atop a cross, it is one of the most recognisable symbols from the ancient world and remains a powerful emblem of immortality and divine protection.
Shop Ankh PendantsWhat it Means
The loop of the Ankh represents the eternal soul, that which has no beginning and no end. The cross below represents the material world and the physical body. Together they express the union of the mortal and the divine, the earthly and the eternal. It was carried by gods and pharaohs as a symbol of their power over life and death.
History & Origins
The Ankh appears throughout ancient Egyptian art from at least 3000 BCE. It was held by gods such as Isis, Osiris, and Ra, and placed in tombs to ensure the deceased's passage into the afterlife. It was later adopted by Coptic Christians as a form of the cross, and remains widely used in modern spiritual practice.
Wearing the Ankh
Wearing the Ankh is an affirmation of life in its fullest sense, physical vitality, spiritual continuity, and the eternal nature of the soul.