No. 35 - Ankh

I was listening this morning to a podcast about the season premiere episode of LOST and it reminded me of the wooden ankh that Hurley was carrying in the guitar case. LOST is filled with Egyptian symbolism so it was no surprise to learn that the ankh is one of the most familiar of the Egyptian hieroglyphs and was often represented in Egyptian art.

The ankh was the actual hieroglyphic sign for "life." It was often used to show the deceased having been bestowed with life after death. The symbol is often associated with immortality. The Christian cross appears to have been adapted from the ankh.

There are multiple disputed theories on its origin. Some say it is symbolic of a sunrise. Others say it depicts an elaborate bow, or may represent a sandal strap, or may have a sexual symbolism. Guides in Egypt today apparently tell tourists that the circle at the top represents the female sex organ, the stump at the bottom is the male organ, and the crossed line represents the children of the union.

In King Tut's tomb there was a gilded mirror found in the shape of an ankh. Its creator was likely enjoying a play on words, as the Egyptian word for mirror was also "ankh."