The Ankh Cross
also known as the Ansata Cross and the Egyptian Cross
Impress your friends by knowing the posh name - crux ansata - the ancient Egyptian hieroglyph meaning 'life'
The Ankh Cross
also known as the Ansata Cross (crux ansata - 'Cross with handles') and the Egyptian Cross
Ankh Cross
Looking like a person standing with outstretched arms, the Ankh Cross is a looped Tau Cross and an old Egyptian hieroglyph meaning life. It sometimes goes by the exotic name Key of the Nile.
There are several theories about the origin of this design. One suggestion is that the symbol looks like the posts that aligned the banks of the Nile River to indicate the high-water mark of floods. Since the floods bring new and fertile soil, this became the symbol of renewed life.
Another theory to connect this hieroglyph to life, is from the symbolic representation of a sandal's thong with a loop going around the ankle. In ancient Egyptian, sandal thong and life had the same pronunciation (homophony). Deciding on a hieroglyph for sandal thong was relatively easy; they simply drew what they saw. But deciding on something for the less tangible life, was a challenge. So they used the hieroglyph that had the same sound. This occurs frequently in non-phonetic languages and is known as the Rebus Principle. (The English word ankle is derived from Indo-European ank.)
Ankh symbol, seen in the centre of this ancient Egyptian relief
And yet another theory goes that the Ankh symbol is a sketch of the womb, in addition to being a sketch of the sexual union of male and female genitalia. By extension, we imagine zest, energy, reproduction, regeneration, and immortality.
For many civilisations using this symbol, the loop represented the sun and it was held by many gods including Atum, the sun-god of Heliopolis. The loop is also a perfect symbol that has neither beginning nor end, so it represents the eternal soul.
The entire symbol is also a key, to unlock hidden mysteries in the Kingdom of the Dead and was often used in funeral rites. The symbol also represents the Tree of Life, with its trunk and foliage.
Early Christians adopted this symbol because of its resemblance to the cross. In particular, it was adopted by the Coptic Church of Egypt (see also Coptic Cross).
The symbol remains popular with Christians today. It reminds them of the eternal life through Christ. (Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6)
The correct pronunciation of 'ankh' is uncertain. Some say onk or onch (hence reference to Onk/Onch Cross) but ank (as in 'tank') seems the more popular pronunciation.
