Summary
The ankh is the ancient Egyptian sign for “life”, a cross with a loop at the top, and the most widespread symbol of ancient Egypt. It was a hieroglyph, an amulet and a gift of the gods: on temple walls, gods hold it out to the king’s nose to give him the breath of eternal life. No one knows for sure what object it first showed. It was used for more than 3,000 years, survived into early Christianity as the Coptic looped cross, and is still one of the most recognised signs in the world.
What Does the Ankh Mean?
In the Egyptian language the word ankh meant “life” and also “to live”. The sign stood for life in its fullest sense: physical life on earth, the life-giving power of the gods, and eternal life after death. Because Egyptian writing used pictures, the ankh was both a word and a symbol: writing it was believed to call life into being.
It belongs to a small group of signs of power that often appear together: the ankh (life), the djed (stability) and the was sceptre (power), in the phrase “all life, stability and power” that the gods promised to every king. Read about the others in ancient Egyptian symbols and their meanings.
Where Did the Ankh Come From?
The ankh appears in the earliest Egyptian writing, more than 5,000 years ago, and its original meaning is still debated. The main theories are:
- A sandal strap: the loop around the ankle and the strap between the toes. The Egyptian word for sandal strap sounded similar, and many Egyptologists accept this view.
- A knot or a band of cloth, like the tied sashes worn in rituals.
- A mirror: the Egyptian word for mirror was also ankh, and mirror cases were often made in its shape.
Other popular ideas, that it joins male and female symbols or shows the sun rising over the horizon, are modern interpretations, not ancient ones.
How the Ankh Was Used
- In the hands of the gods: Osiris, Isis, Amun, Ra and almost every other god carry it, usually held by the loop.
- The breath of life: in temple reliefs a god holds the ankh to the king’s nose or lips, giving him eternal life.
- Streams of life: in purification scenes, the water poured over the king is drawn as a chain of tiny ankh signs.
- The rays of the Aten: under Akhenaten, the sun’s rays end in hands holding ankhs to the royal family.
- In names: Tutankhamun means “living image of Amun”, and his queen was Ankhesenamun, “she lives for Amun”.
- Amulets and objects: ankh amulets, ankh-shaped mirror cases, vases and jewellery were made for the living and placed with the dead. Read how in Egyptian mummies and sarcophagi.
8-Day Cairo, Siwa and White & Black Desert Adventure
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View This TripThe Ankh After the Pharaohs
When Egypt became Christian, the Copts adopted the ankh as a form of the cross, the crux ansata, or “cross with a handle”, seen in early Coptic textiles and carvings. At Philae you can still see crosses carved by early Christians onto the old temple walls. In modern times the ankh has become a worldwide symbol of life, ancient Egypt and spiritual identity, worn as jewellery and tattoos far from the Nile.
Where to See the Ankh in Egypt
| Where | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Karnak Temple | Gods offering the ankh to the king on columns and walls |
| Valley of the Kings | Painted ankhs in the royal tombs |
| Temple of Seti I, Abydos | Some of the finest carved ankhs and offering scenes in Egypt |
| Grand Egyptian Museum | Tutankhamun’s ankh-shaped mirror case and amulets |
| Philae Temple | Coptic crosses beside the old ankhs |
Your Egyptologist will point them out on our full-day Luxor tour or on a Nile cruise.
The Ankh: FAQ
What does the ankh mean?
Life. The ankh was the ancient Egyptian hieroglyph for “life” and a symbol of eternal life given by the gods.
What does the ankh represent?
Its original object is uncertain; the most accepted theory is a sandal strap, while others see a knot of cloth or a mirror.
Is the ankh a religious symbol?
It was sacred in ancient Egyptian religion and was later adopted by Coptic Christians as a form of the cross. Today it is used both as a spiritual sign and as a general symbol of Egypt.
Why do Egyptian gods hold the ankh?
Because they were the source of life: holding the ankh showed their power to give life, and in reliefs they offer it to the king.
Is it disrespectful to wear an ankh?
No. In Egypt the ankh is widely sold as jewellery and souvenirs and is seen as a symbol of the country’s heritage.
