Ankh Symbol Relief

The ankh is ancient Egypt's most recognizable hieroglyph, meaning "life." Shaped this like a cross with a loop at the top, it appears carved into temple walls, painted on coffins, and held in the hands of gods across thousands of years of Egyptian art. In relief carvings, deities often extend the ankh toward a pharaoh's nose, literally giving the breath of life.

The symbol's origin is debated. Some scholars see a sandal strap (the Egyptian word for sandal strap sounds like "ankh"). Others propose a knot, a vertebra, or a stylized combination of male and female symbols. Whatever its origin, the ankh became synonymous with eternal life and was adopted into Coptic Christian iconography as the crux ansata. Relief examples survive at Karnak, Luxor Temple, Abu Simbel, and countless tombs. Standalone ankh amulets in faience, wood, and metal were buried with the dead for protection in the afterlife.