Symbols of the Two Lands: the Ankh

Probably one of the most, if not THE most famous hieroglyph, the mysterious and iconic Ankh symbolises (and in the magical tradition of ancient Egypt, imparts) life. In this week's video, the first of my Symbols of the Two Lands series, I explore the origins, meanings and uses of the Ankh.
Look out for a new Armchair Egyptology video every Wednesday.
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All materials herein remain property of their respective owners. Material included is either with permission, by Creative Commons licence, is in the public domain, or falls under fair use. If you think you have copyright on anything used in this video and the above doesn't apply to your work, get in touch by email or DM me on Twitter. We are not a thief, and will only use something if we can prove it's justified.

[@vanessajansen3090]

"A torture device called a crucifix" ?!?! Pls Mr Armchair Egyptologist. I keep spitting out my wine with these sublime subliminal quotes.

[@mohamedhommos7748]

Im from Egyptian country in North Africa 🇪🇬 ❤️ 🌍 👍👍 My favorite symbol for ancient Egyptian god the Ankh"- the key of life and The Key of eternal life and Immortality and Afterlife

[@Sanisgillon]

I love that Death wears the symbol for life. I like to think it’s not just a goth thing, but that it’s self referential.

[@ricohard1986]

If I remember my Gaiman correctly, and it has been a long long time since I read Sandman, Isn't it stated at one point that she also talks to everyone prior to birth...

[@ArmchairEgyptology]

Yep, we each meet her twice!

[@somecheese]

I have a little gold ankh pendant that my late grandmother left me. My mother suspects she thought it was a cross, but we've no way to be certain!

[@ArmchairEgyptology]

Did she have a fascination with Egypt, as far as you know? Or is the cross hypothesis the most likely?

[@somecheese]

@@ArmchairEgyptology not that my mum was aware of, to my knowledge. Certainly she wasn't a collector of any kind. I quite like the mystery around where she obtained the pendant in the first place, and who made it and why!

[@ArmchairEgyptology]

Mysterious pendant of no known origin is a top tier family mystery!

[@miguelgarzone291]

I was also informed that the bottom of the Ankh represents the masculine energy of the father who produces the seed. The top of the Ankh represents the divine feminine energy, which is symbolized as the womb. The left and right side of the Ankh are the ovaries and the middle is the birth canal. The mother and the father come together and create life. Thus supporting what you claimed in your video! This is not going against anything you said because your video is perfect. Thank you for clarification! I just wanted to share what I’ve been told.

[@ArmchairEgyptology]

Sounds very strange to me since the ancient Egyptians were not at all shy about depicting human reproductive parts very literally in their hieroglyphs! Where did you read about this? I'd love to follow up.

[@magickpalms4025]

Really fascinating artifact @3:45 ... the wꜣs looks like it has a bird wing, a detail that you rarely see in other depictions of the sceptre

[@ArmchairEgyptology]

It's surprising how rarely the was is depicted in detail! Funnily enough, when you said 'wing', I looked and thought it was more like the reed we usually transcribe 'i'. Side note, until I was in my 20s and actually studying hieroglyphs, I called that sign a feather. I think I can be forgiven. If you see a detailed depiction of Anubis or Wepwawet, you'll notice that this is how their ears are depicted. It's pretty distinct from the wing, which is usually shown with the feathers fully splayed, but it resembles that reed so much it's hard to put from my mind. Well spotted! I didn't notice. I was distracted by that tiny Hehu figure using the ankh as a gazebo.

[@magickpalms4025]

@@ArmchairEgyptology You are certainly better versed in this sort of thing, i am just getting started so i appreciate your channel very much. i also saw the ear resemblance (since i am told that the wꜣs has an animal head (which i struggle to see outside of maybe Seth), but you have a point with the reed resemblance as well. i am a palm tree botanist, so ḥḥ is probably my favorite Egyptian deity, i was going to ask if that was them in that artifact as well. thanks for the reply, i think i have finished watching all your videos at least once now haha

[@ejkboxing]

The Ancient Egyptians are depicted walking around holding the ahnk in their hands, not worn as a symbol. That tells you it's some sort of tool, not a symbol. It's likely a communication device. The same way we're currently walking around with a communications device, the ahnk likely served the purpose.

[@ArmchairEgyptology]

That’s a bit of a leap from taking hieroglyphs literally (often a mistake) to directly comparing what is probably a shoe strap with a smartphone.

[@ejkboxing]

@@ArmchairEgyptology who walks around with a damn shoe strap? You believing they were just carrying a shoe strap is more ridiculous than if they did carry shoe straps.

[@ArmchairEgyptology]

As I said, not everything in these depictions is literal. It may not be a strap but my friend, it is unquestionably not a communications device, outside of its potential use in ticking or slapping people, or being a sign that you hold up to say “hey, look at this shoe strap”.

[@adonaiblackwood]

They’re energy devices. ☝️ The shape because it’s derived from the “flower of life” pattern (sacred geometry), and “Form Creates Frequency”..so it can be as simple as talismanic jewelry (meant to be worn for good life) to loop antenna technology devices (for healing and possibly radio communication). Cheers!

[@ArmchairEgyptology]

Probably just a sandal strap or a knot though, right?

[@saadabbas8976]

Cosmos, Information, Vortex, Theory Scientific & Academic Publishing

[@ricohard1986]

Life, Prosperity and health? so... Live Long and Prosper?

[@ArmchairEgyptology]

That is an absolutely valid translation, delightfully.

[@ricohard1986]

@@ArmchairEgyptology more proof of common contact between ancient eygpt and aliens...

[@ArmchairEgyptology]

I am prepared to disavow you if They come for you 😏

[@obsess2222]

This symbol came to me in my minds eye during a spontaneous kundalini awakening. I had to research what it was and meant. I believe that the meaning is that the top is a closed loop of reality meets expanding open consciousness

[@ArmchairEgyptology]

How very esoteric! Possibly a different meaning than the one originally intended, but I’m not the symbolism police!

[@mrmurray382]

The ankh is a key to a device... Hence it represents "life" because it makes the machine "Come to life".

[@ArmchairEgyptology]

Fairly weird key, given that it wholly lacks in any kind of tine or tooth to engage with a mechanism!

[@mrmurray382]

@@ArmchairEgyptology that's because it works by conducting the intent of the user to the machine... so they would simply insert it and think about ignition... their intent would travel as an impulse through the key and activate the machine.

[@ArmchairEgyptology]

I strongly doubt it, but let me know when archaeologists find such a device.

[@GujiYogi]

Interesting reflection as sound as a tool with body as device would work if correct sounds were joined in a harmonic way that ignites life energies within body or device.

[@lawrencewilliams1477]

REVERSE GENDER SIGN ALWAYS BEEN

[@ArmchairEgyptology]

In what way? It’s superficially similar to the “female” Venus symbol, but it’s use by ancient Egyptians relates not one bit to their conception of gender

[@ptmountford]

If the ankh is about life does it have any connection to the Ka?

[@ArmchairEgyptology]

Oh yes. At 0355 on the bottom left, is a stone dish. If you were to see it closer you'd see the ankh surrounded by the pair of arms that were the word 'ka'. I believe, and I may be barking up the wrong tree, that the ankh is the concept of life, and the ka is the literal 'substance' of life, the life-force. I will look into that though, because I too would like to know the connection and distinction!

[@ricohard1986]

Ka is, very roughly, one of the nine components of the ancient egyptian metaphysical understanding of the person. It is the energy that makes you alive and not dead. Topping it up is why we eat and drink. Its what is breathed into unliving clay to make a person.

[@nickauclair1477]

I've also seen it used a a key to slave shackles

[@davidthomas3074]

It is a dipition of an alien

[@ArmchairEgyptology]

It certainly is not.

[@PierreDuhamel-lj1vb]

Ankh is the second of the seven infold bodies of man...the breathing animal soul wich mastering give access to spiritual worlds

[@ArmchairEgyptology]

Sounds interesting. What makes you say that?