Solid 925 sterling silver Egyptian ankh pendant
Approx length 45mm width 20mm
Please note: Chain not included. However, browse our range of Italian silver chains in a variety of lengths and link styles.
The ankh or key of life is an ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic symbol that was most commonly used in writing and in Egyptian art to represent the word for "life" and, by extension, as a symbol of life itself.
In general, the ankh is considered to be the symbol of life, eternal life and fertility.
In hieroglyphics of ancient Egypt, the symbol has been used to denote life. In artworks, it was used to represent life, air and water, the two elements that were closely associated with it.
The ankh also known by the name ‘the key of life’ symbolizes eternal life and can be seen in the hands of many Egyptian gods in the artworks of ancient Egypt.
The ankhs were seen as keys that unlocked the door of the afterlife for the souls of the dead. They were sometimes placed in sarcophagi and tombs to ensure that the soul of the person who passed away was able to move on to the afterlife. When you think of it, the key of life becomes just the perfect way to represent eternal life in that sense.
It is also believed to represent the three life-giving forces of significant importance in ancient Egypt; the sun, water and air.
The Ankh As A Symbol of Fertility
The ankh was also considered a symbol of fertility in ancient Egypt as it was believed to symbolize the sexual union of a man and a woman. This could be interpreted as just another way that the ankh represents life, the creation of life, ‘the life to come’, that is.
one sources suggest that the symbol is a combination of the male and female symbols (or the loop and the cross or the vertical beam represent female and male sexual organs, respectively), therefore, it is a powerful symbol of fertility.
