Ankh – symbol of life
http://touregypt.net/featurestories/ankh.htm
The Ankh was, for the ancient
Egyptians, the symbol (the actual Hieroglyphic sign) of life but it is an
enduring icon that remains with us even today as a Christian cross. It is one of the most
potent symbols represented in Egyptian art, often forming a part of decorative
motifs.
The ankh seems at least to be an
evolved form of, or associated with the Egyptian glyph for magical protection,
sa. However, what the sign itself represents is often disputed. For example,
Sir Alan Gardiner thought that it showed a sandal strap with the loop at the
top forming the strap, but if so, the symbolism is obscure and so his theory
has found little real favor early on. However, this interpretation seems to
have received some acceptance among modern writers. It would seem that the
ancient Egyptians called that part of the sandal 'nkh (exact pronunciation
unknown). Because this word was composed of the same consonants as the word
"life", the sign to represent that particular part of the sandal, was
also used to write the word "life".
Another theory holds that the ankh
was symbolic of the sunrise, with the loop representing the Sun rising above
the horizon, which is represented by the crossbar. The vertical section below
the crossbar would then be the path of the sun
Wolfhart Westendorf felt it was
associated with the tyet emblem, or the "knot of Isis". He thought
both were ties for ceremonial girdles. Winfried Barta connected the ankh with
the royal cartouche in which the king's name was written, while others have
even identified it as a penis sheath. The presence of a design resembling a
pubic triangle on one ankh of the New kingdom
seems to allow for the idea that the sign may be a specifically sexual symbol.
In fact, guides in Egypt today like to tell tourists that the circle at the top
represents the female sexual organ, while the stump at the bottom the male
organ and the crossed line, the children of the union. However, while this
interpretation may have a long tradition, there is no scholarly research that
would suggest such an exact meaning.
The ankh, on some temple walls in
Upper Egypt, could also symbolize water in rituals of purification. Here, the
king would stand between two gods, one of whom was usually Thoth, as they
poured over him a stream of libations represented by ankhs.
The ancient gods of Egypt are
often depicted as carrying ankh signs. We find Anqet, Ptah, Satet, Sobek, Tefnut, Osiris, Ra, Isis, Hathor, Anibus and many other gods
often holding the ankh sign, along with a scepter, and in various tomb and
temple reliefs, placing it in front of the king's face to symbolize the breath
of eternal life. During the Amarna period,
the ankh sign was depicted being offered to Akhenaten and Nefertiti by the hands at
the end of the rays descending from the sun disk, Aten. Therefore, the ankh
sign is not only a symbol of worldly life, but of life in the netherworld.
Therefore, we also find the dead being referred to as ankhu, and a term for a
sarcophagus was neb-ankh, meaning possessor of life.
It is at least interesting that
the ankh word was used for mirrors from at least the Middle Kingdom
onward, and that indeed, many mirrors were shaped in the form of an ankh sign.
Life and death mirror each other,
and in any number of ancient religions, mirrors were used for purposes of
divination.
In fact, the ankh sign in ancient
Egypt seems to have transcended illiteracy, being comprehensible to even those
who could not read. Hence, we even find it as a craftsman's mark on pottery
vessels.
As the Christian era eclipsed
Egypt's pharaonic pagan religion, the sign was adapted by the Coptic church as
their unique form of a cross, known as the crux ansata.
Egyptian Ankh
The Egyptian ankh is a familiar symbol seen as ankh charms, on decorative
items, on T shirts and many other places in the modern world. It is similar in
appearance to the Christian cross with a loop above the bar. It's origins are
still a mystery but it's meaning is clear. It is the Egyptian hieroglyph for
'eternal life' and is seen in decorative work in tombs and on household objects
left in the tombs, which were either shaped in the form of an ankh or decorated
with this symbol. The Origins of the Ankh There are many theories about it's origins ranging from a knot used on
ceremonial or religious garments, a stylised sandal strap or as a sexual symbol.
The most popular theory is that it represents an elaborate bow with the lower
section often being comprised of two parts which make up the tails of the bow.
The ankh is carried in depictions of Egyptian gods and clearly symbolises life
in these images. It is often seen being offered to a king as a symbolic 'breath
of life' and ankhs were often symbolised as flowing in chains from water vessels
symbolising it's life giving properties. Vessels used for water containers in
religious ceremonies were often made in the shape of an ankh. A Symbol of Life As a symbol of life it was also seen as a symbol of fertility, life in the
generations to come. Another name for the ankh is the Key of the Nile and as
such represents the union of Osiris and Isis which was thought to begin the
annual Nile flooding, so important to the Ancient Egyptians. Many Egyptian gods
were shown carrying an ankh, often in both hands crossed over the chest as seen
in a statue of Osiris or an ankh in one hand and a scepter in the other as
Hathor, Isis, Anibus, Sobek, Tefnut and many more are shown. The symbol also
represents life in the netherworld and the dead may be referred to as ankhu and
a sarcophagus as a neb-ankh. Mirrors and many other household objects were made in the shape of an ankh
and it was also the word for mirror. A gilded mirror case was found in the tomb
of Tutankhamen and sistrums (a type of musical instrument) and spoons were also
made in this shape. The Use of the Ankh in the Modern World Today the ankh is widely used as a decorative devise today from American pop
culture to a symbol depicting spiritual beliefs. In the 1960's and 1970's it was
a popular sign used by the hippies as an affirmation of life and disdain for the
materialism of the times. It is associated in Gothic subculture with vampirism
and has appeared in many vampire films. Whether you wear an ankh for it's purely decorative affect or for a deeper,
spiritual meaning it is a well known and loved symbol that can be found in
exquisite gold and silver jewelry, as ankh charms, earrings, necklaces or
pendants. For more information and some good deals on gold and silver ankh jewelry and
charms visit Gold and
Silver Charm Jewelry or Ankh Charm
Jewelry Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janet_Ashby
For more readings:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankh
http://www.egyptianmyths.net/ankh.htm
http://www.egyptiandreams.co.uk/ankh.php
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Egyptian-Ankh---Charms,-Symbols-and-Origins&id=2458712
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