Entry 14 / Symbols & amulets
Ankh
A small sign with life at its centre.
The ankh is an ancient Egyptian hieroglyph associated with the word ‘life’. Its looped top, crossbar and upright stem also made it a powerful visual symbol. Gods hold it in Egyptian art, and it appears in amulets, ritual objects and combinations of auspicious signs.
Take a closer look ↓
Written in signs
Name & hieroglyphs
- Transliteration
- ꜥnḫ
- Familiar names & readings
- Ankh
One documented spelling, shown in a simple left-to-right line. Ancient spellings and the arrangement of signs varied. Transliteration records consonants; familiar readings supply conventional vowels.
Ankh is a conventional reading of ꜥnḫ, the Egyptian word for “life,” also related to the verb “to live.” The first consonant ꜥ is not an English a, and ḫ is the consonant commonly represented by kh.
The looped-cross sign can carry the sound value ꜥnḫ. In the expanded dictionary spelling here, the water line and final ḫ sign repeat the last two consonants. They clarify the reading rather than adding extra syllables. Its meaning is secure even though the object that originally inspired its shape remains debated.
01 / The story
What does the ankh mean?
The most secure starting point is its use in writing: the ankh sign expresses life and related words. In an image, the same sign can function as a visible gift of life. This close relationship between writing and imagery is one of the pleasures of learning to read Egyptian objects.
The sign is often called the ‘key of life’ today. That phrase is a useful modern label, but it should not be mistaken for proof that the original shape was a key. The object or idea behind the sign’s earliest shape is not settled simply by its modern nickname.
02 / The story
From hieroglyph to object
The faience example shown here is large enough to make the written sign into a physical implement. Its clear silhouette allows the same form to be recognised at very different scales, from a tiny pendant to a feature in a temple scene.
Ankh signs can also be combined with the djed pillar and was sceptre, joining wishes for life, stability and dominion. When several signs appear together, reading their relationship often tells you more than assigning one general label such as ‘good luck’.
Train your eye
Three details to notice.
A closed upper loop
The oval or teardrop-shaped opening is the most familiar feature.
A straight crossbar
The horizontal arms distinguish an ankh from the downward-folding sides of a tyet.
Its company
Other signs, divine hands or a recipient help explain what an ankh is doing in a scene.
A little more understanding
Good questions.
Clear answers.
Does the ankh mean eternal life?
It means life and can express hopes for continuing life in religious and funerary contexts. ‘Eternal life’ is a common interpretation, but context matters.
Is an ankh the same as a tyet?
No. Their outlines can look similar, but the ankh’s arms extend across while the tyet’s side elements turn down. Their histories and associations differ.
What does an ankh necklace mean today?
A wearer may choose it for its ancient association with life, an interest in Egypt or a personal meaning. Modern use does not give every piece one fixed religious significance.
What does the word ankh mean?
It is a conventional reading of Egyptian ꜥnḫ, “life,” related to the verb “to live.” The symbol can therefore function as a written word as well as an emblem.
Why are extra signs sometimes written after an ankh?
They can repeat sounds already contained in the ankh sign to clarify its reading. Such sound complements do not necessarily create extra syllables.
Why do gods hold ankhs?
The emblem communicates life and the divine capacity to grant or sustain it. Its placement in a scene helps explain how that idea is being expressed.
Is the ankh an Egyptian hieroglyph?
Yes. Its familiar shape belongs to the writing system, where it can carry the sound value ꜥnḫ. It also appears independently in art and amulets.
Do we know what object inspired the ankh’s shape?
Several explanations have been proposed, but its original visual source is uncertain. That uncertainty does not change the well-established reading “life.”
From the library to your home
Keep the story close.
Explore pieces in our shop connected with this subject. The museum objects above are historical references; shop items have their own materials and descriptions.
Explore the Ankh collection
Follow the connections
There’s more to this story.
The evidence behind the entry
Bibliography & image credits
Museum records, language references and published research used for this entry. Name spellings and interpretations are documented here alongside the historical sources.
- The Met — Ceremonial implement in the shape of an ankh
- Global Egyptian Museum — Ankh
- British Museum — Amulet combining life, endurance and dominion
- Thesaurus Linguae Aegyptiae — ꜥnḫ, lemma 38540 (accessed 20 October 2026)
Photograph: Ceremonial Implement in the Shape of an Ankh, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 30.8.29. Theodore M. Davis Collection, Bequest of Theodore M. Davis, 1915. CC0 / Public domain. Resized for display; the complete photograph is preserved.