123 Ankh

Museum Description: Faience Composite Amulet

Room: 65/Case: 10/Number: EA 49726

Scripture: 1 John 5:21

This cross of life is combined with an Egyptian sceptre and the head of the god Heh, supposedly the god of 'everlastingness'.

Here we have an example of the ankh, or ‘crux ansata’, which means “cross with handle”.  The New Catholic Encyclopaedia admits: “The cross is found in both pre-Christian and non-Christian cultures, where it has largely a cosmic or natural signification.” Why, then, have the churches chosen the cross as their most sacred symbol?  W. E. Vine, a respected British Biblical scholar, mentions these facts: “By the middle of the 3rd cent. A.D. pagans were received into the churches and were permitted largely to retain their pagan signs and symbols”.  You will be amazed by the number of ankhs you can find in the Egyptian galleries!  Other similar or related artefacts are on display in The British Museum.