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| Ankh | |
| Type: | Mystical |
| Continuity: | Real world |
| Aliases: | Key of Life |
| Availability: | Common item |
| Manufacturer: | Gods of Egypt |
The ankh or key of life is an ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic symbol used in Egyptian art and writing to represent the word for "life" and, by extension, as a symbol of life itself.
The ankh has a cross shape but with a teardrop-shaped loop in place of a vertical upper bar. The origins of the symbol are not known, although many hypotheses have been proposed. It was used in writing as a triliteral sign, representing a sequence of three consonants, Ꜥ-n-ḫ. This sequence was found in several Egyptian words, including the words meaning "mirror", "floral bouquet", and "life". In art the symbol often appeared as a physical object representing either life or substances such as air or water that are related to it. It was especially commonly held in the hands of ancient Egyptian deities, or being given by them to the pharaoh, to represent their power to sustain life and to revive human souls in the afterlife.
The ankh was one of the most common decorative motifs in ancient Egypt and was also used decoratively by neighboring cultures. Coptic Christians adapted it into the crux ansata, a shape with a circular rather than oval loop, and used it as a variant of the Christian cross. The ankh came into widespread use in Western culture in the 1960s, and it is often used as a symbol of African cultural identity, Neopagan belief systems, and the goth subculture.
DC Comics[]
The Ankh is the symbol of station for the aspect of Death of the Endless. Death wears an ankh on a chain about her neck. As the ankh represents life, it is meant to be seen as ironic that is should be draped about the neck of its cosmological opposite. Although has represented herself in various imagery over the years, the ankh remains a steadfast trademark of her appearance.
Marvel Comics[]
The word "ankh" has also been used to describe the cosmic entity known as the In-Betweener - mostly because it sounds a helluva lot less silly.
The ankh also became the symbol for Marc Spector, aka Moon Knight during one of his revival periods after receiving renewed vitality, and he wore its brand upon the chest of his costume. Moon Knight also incorporated a golden ankh as a weapon in his arsenal. This artifact was an ancient relic handed down from the Priests of Khonshu. The original ankh itself was forged by Clint Barton, aka Hawkeye, when he traveled back in time to the year 2940.
For a time, the symbol of the ankh would appear upon the brow of Stephen Strange whenever he suffered a near-mortal blow.