The Ancient Spiral Encyclopaedia

Ankh

ANCIENT SPIRAL ANKH ancient egypt cross anke sign of life sandman

Pewter Ankh Pendant, available at the Spiral Online Shop

  • The ankh is a type of cross characterised by an oval shaped upper spoke.
  • It is said to pre-date the Christian ("Latin") cross by several hundred years.
  • The ankh is commonly associated with Ancient Egypt, where it was a very ubiquitous symbol, but it also appears in many other cultures.
  • In Ancient Egypt it was a symbol of life, a symbol that continued into the Christian tradition.
  • Many believe the ankh to be a symbol of male-female harmony -  the downward point symbolising the male, and the upper oval representing the female.
  • The oval shape is often thought to be related to the Vesica Pisces - the female symbol of Christianity.
  • Today, the ankh is widely worn by Pagans and Wiccans.
  • Through its use in vampire movie and in Neil Gaiman's Sandman comic series, the ankh has also become one of many symbols embraced by the Goth subculture movement.

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