Essentially the Tau cross surmounted by a loop or circle, the ankh is a prominent feature of Ancient African reliefs, artworks, and funerary paraphernalia. Like the tau, the ankh is a letter. Specifically, it is a hieroglyph meaning life.
The ankh, an ancient Kemetan symbol, holds not only a physical representation but also a deep spiritual meaning. Often depicted as a cross with a loop at the top, it signifies eternal life and immortality. The true meaning of the ankh originates from the belief that life is an eternal journey, and this symbol serves as a reminder of that divine truth. In addition to its spiritual significance, the ankh has various uses in different contexts. It can be found in ancient hieroglyphics as a symbol of power and vitality, often associated with gods and pharaohs. Today, the ankh continues to captivate people's interest as a symbol of life, balance, and overall well-being. Its versatility serves as a constant reminder to embrace the eternal essence of life and cherish its spiritual significance.
In the sacred geometry of the ankh, creative and cosmic forces are brought together. The tool acts as an amplifier of the energy that is already there and can also be a channel to capture, conduct, and allow energy to flow outward or into itself.
The Egyptian gods carry the ankh in their hands, holding it like a sceptre. It symbolises initiation and transformation, even a transformation from death to life. Is the ankh a key, a gateway to the realm of the dead?
Powerful symbols frequently stray across into is other cultures despite their origins, and the ankh no exception. Because it symbolises immortality and the Universe, it was initially borrowed by the fourth-century Coptic Christians who used it as a symbol to reinforce Christ's message that there is life after death. The ankh is used by the Rosicrucian order too.
Even though its actual invention is shrouded in thousands of years of `mystery, the ankh symbol can be bought in any high street jewellery store anywhere in the world. Said to be the original Egyptian cross, often shown in the hands of important ancient figures on Egyptian hieroglyphs. It can be expressed by the body ( feet together and hands stretched out to either side - palms facing up).
Let's take its age into context, in 2020, the Egyptian Council of Egyptology was going to announce that the Giza pyramids are far older than originally thought, that previously recorded age, turned out to be the last time those pyramids were refurbished. So the previously presented age of all these symbols has increased.
