Ankh - The Symbol of Life

( Extract from the book - "Heka - The Practices of Ancient Egyptian Ritual & Magic by David Rankine - for more information on this book click here)

No-one knows exactly where the ankh came from, but we do know that the concept of life associated with the ankh encompassed life-sustaining waters, air, food, life-force and sexual fecundity. Many libation jars and vessels were made in the shape of the ankh, as it was thought the power of the ankh would bless the water within and make it more powerful. You can pour water or wine through the loop of an ankh as a form of blessing.

Sexual fertility was also linked to the ankh, which represented sexual union as the combination of the pubic triangle (as the loop), and the penis as the line below uniting with it. The ankh is also known as the key of life. The word for mirror was the same as that for ankh, suggesting the need to look truly at oneself and not fall prey to delusion.

( Extract from the book - "Heka - The Practices of Ancient Egyptian Ritual & Magic by David Rankine - for more information on this book click here)