The ancient Egyptians had a complex system of symbols and images that represented concepts, values, and ideas. One of the most well-known Egyptian symbols is the ankh, which represented life and immortality. But did the ankh also signify love? Let’s explore the meaning and history of this iconic Egyptian hieroglyph to understand its connection to love.
The Meaning of the Ankh
The ankh is one of the most common symbols from ancient Egypt. It resembles a cross with a loop at the top, similar to a key. Egyptologists believe the ankh was often depicted being held in the hands of gods, pharaohs, and common people alike. It was also frequently drawn being passed from one individual to another during rituals or ceremonies.
The most agreed upon meaning of the ankh is that it represented life and the afterlife. It symbolized eternal life, the ability to transcend from the mortal realm to the divine. The loop represented life’s never-ending journey, death and rebirth. Ancient Egyptians would even wear ankhs as amulets, believing the symbol would impart immortality, vitality, and long life.
But the precise meaning of the ankh appears to have evolved over Egypt’s 3,000 year history. During different time periods, it was associated with air, fertility and reproduction. This has led some Egyptologists to propose that the ankh also symbolized love, union, and intimacy in addition to life.
The Ankh in Hieroglyphs and Art
Let’s look at how the ankh was used in Egyptian hieroglyphs and art for more clues about its connection to love.
In hieroglyphic writing, the ankh symbol meant “life” or “breath of life”. It was used in words and names relating to life, air, and joy. The word for “mirror”,Egyptian art, the ankh often appears in close proximity to figures in intimate poses. For example, in Ptolemaic and Roman period temples, gods were depicted handing ankhs to goddesses, a composition that represented the giving of life, fertility and sexual union.
Likewise, New Kingdom tomb decorations frequently showed a husband and wife embracing with ankhs held up to their lips, suggesting the life-giving power of their love and sexual relationship. These patterns in Egyptian artwork lend support to the theory that the ankh was a symbol of love and intimacy in addition to life.
Notable Examples of Ankhs and Love in Egyptian Art
Here are some specific examples of ankhs appearing in artwork related to love and fertility:
- In the Temple of Hathor at Dendera, Hathor hands an ankh to her consort Horus, symbolizing her powers of regeneration and sexuality.
- A relief in the tomb of Ay shows him and his wife adoring each other, each holding an ankh up to their partner’s face.
- On the walls of Nefertari’s tomb, she and Ramesses II are depicted embracing intimately with ankhs held up to each other’s mouths.
In these artworks, the ankh seems to take on an additional meaning connected to the intimacy, sexuality, and union between figures.
The Ankh in Jewelry and Objects
Ankhs were commonly worn as amulets by the living and the dead in ancient Egypt. This practice points to a meaning of the ankh related to love and protection.
Egyptian men and women frequently wore ankhs as jewelry, believing they invoked the powers of life and fertility. An amulet in the shape of the ankh was thought to extend the wearer’s lifespan and vitality. Positioning the amulet over the womb was believed to enhance fertility and reproductive ability.
Ankhs were also placed in tombs and gravesites to impart vitality and longevity to souls journeying to the afterlife. By burying the dead with ankhs, Egyptians hoped to ensure eternal and joyful life after death.
This widespread use of ankhs in intimate contexts and for protection supports the symbol having connotations of love in Egyptian culture, beyond just life.
Examples of Ankhs in Jewelry and Burial Objects
- A fine golden ankh necklace and earring set was found in the tomb of Tutankhamun, meant to adorn him in the afterlife.
- Multiple mummies have been uncovered buried with tiny ankhs placed over the chest and abdomen areas.
- A coffin painting from the 22nd dynasty shows the goddess Nut holding an ankh to the nose of the deceased, to invoke eternal life.
From jewelry to burial objects, ankhs were ubiquitous in ancient Egypt. Their intimate associations reinforce the theory that love was part of their intended symbolism.
Conclusion
Based on its use in hieroglyphs, art, amulets, and burial objects, there is strong evidence that the ankh held a meaning connected to love, intimacy and protection in ancient Egyptian culture. While the preeminent association was with life and the afterlife, the context of certain ankhs relates specifically to fertility, sexuality, and union.
Ankhs held by royal couples, placed over wombs, and buried with mummies carried a distinct message of imparting life-giving power, joy and longevity to intimate relationships. This nuanced meaning of the ankh beyond just “life” shows that the hieroglyph could rightly be considered a symbol representing the concept of love in ancient Egypt.