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An ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic sign shaped like a cross with a looped top, signifying life.
Also known as: Key of Life, Egyptian cross
The ankh is the ancient Egyptian hieroglyph for 'life', shown held by gods and pharaohs as a symbol of vitality and the afterlife; it was later adopted by Coptic Christians as a form of the cross, and by various modern spiritual and cultural movements.
Worn today in some modern spiritual, Kemetic-revivalist and African-diaspora cultural contexts as a symbol of life, heritage or spiritual connection to ancient Egypt — a modern reinterpretation rather than a continuous, unbroken practice.
A modern reinterpretation, not a claim of unbroken continuity with ancient Egyptian religious practice.
Related forms that are not treated as separate canonical symbols — see our variant rules.
Coptic cross (crux ansata)
The ankh form as adopted into early Coptic Christian iconography in Egypt as a cross variant.
A T-shaped cross topped with a teardrop-shaped loop.