Cross with circle on top is the most common ancient Egyptian symbol. It is known as “Ankh.” In many inscriptions, the Ankh was shown in the hands of many Egyptian gods, especially Isis. The Ankh is composed of an inverted teardrop-shaped loop linked at the bottom by a T-shaped cross.
Cross With Circle On Top
The Ankh, which compares a cross with a circle or loop on top of it, was the ancient Egyptian sign that was used the most frequently. In several inscriptions, the Egyptian symbol of the Ankh may be held by various deities, most notably Isis.
The Ankh symbol is also called crux ansata, which means “the cross with a handle” in Latin. It was used in ancient Egypt.
You want to know, “What is an ideograph?” An ideograph or ideogram is a graphic symbol representing a thought or idea in any situation, such as in the context of a language.
The Ankh’s Appearance
The Ankh consists of a teardrop-shaped loop with a T-shaped cross at its base. Typically, the three arms of the Ankh, also referred to as “the cross with a loop at the top,” widen as they approach their ends. This contrasts with a Latin cross, where each arm is of equal length.
Some sources say that after Christians used the symbol, the loop in the shape of a drop turned into a circle over time.
Egyptian Cross Tattoo Meaning
The truth is that getting an ankh tattoo might be one of several possible outcomes. In addition to its aesthetic value, this symbol also carries deep spiritual significance.
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If you are from Egypt or Africa, it would be a great way to show where you come from.
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If you believe in an afterlife or reincarnation, an ankh tattoo would also be a great way to show that you will live forever.
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Since the symbol also stands for the union of a man and a woman, getting an ankh tattoo would be a great way to show that you are married.
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It is also a symbol of nature and fertility, which makes it a good choice for pagan and neo-pagan people.
Religious Meaning Of The Ankh
The Ankh is usually seen as a sign of eternal life and fertility. In ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, the symbol meant “life.” In art, it was used to show life, air, and water, since those were the two things that were most connected to it.
The Ankh, also called “the key of life” symbolizes eternal life. You can see it in the hands of many Egyptian gods in ancient Egyptian art. Experts think that when these gods are shown giving ankhs to pharaohs or kings, they are doing so to ensure that these important people will live forever. At the time, the Pharaohs were kind of seen as gods.
At first, only the pharaohs were allowed to wear or carry an ankh. During the New Kingdom of Egypt, which ruled Egypt from the 16th to the 11th century BC, everyone was allowed to wear or use the Ankh. Some works of art show Isis and Anubis putting ankhs on the lips of the death to bring them back to life in the afterlife.
| Cross Meanings | |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Cross means love |
| 2 | The Cross is willful humility |
| 3 | The Cross is prophetic |
| 4 | The Cross is personal |
| 5 | The Cross is final |
The ankhs were thought to be the keys that let the souls of the death into the next world. They were sometimes put in sarcophagi and tombs to ensure that the death person’s soul could go to the next world. When you think about it, the key to life is a great symbol of eternal life. It is also thought to represent the sun, water, and air, which were very important in ancient Egypt because they gave life.
Ankh as Nile Key Represents Osiris and Isis
The Ankh, also known as the “key of the Nile,” is associated with the Egyptian deities Osiris and Isis and is sometimes seen as a combination of their respective emblems.
Ancient Egyptians thought that when Osiris and his wife/sister Isis “united,” the Nile flooded and brought fertility to Egypt’s dry lands. This is another reason why the Ankh is seen as a symbol of fertility in general and why it is also called the “key of the Nile.”
Crosses of many types and their meanings
The Cross has become a sign that has a lot to do with religion and the past. Different cultures and civilizations have given the Cross different meanings, and these are some of the most well-known ones that have stayed true over time.
Latin cross
The most well-known cross is the Latin cross, also called the crucifix. It stood for the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and for the faith of Christians all over the world. It shows, in particular, what Christ went through and how he died on the Cross. The longer arm at the bottom is what makes this Cross stand out.
Templar Cross
The Templar Cross was worn by knights and meant something to them. They thought it was a sign of their willingness to die in battle as a sign of honor, which would send them to heaven.
Cross with three-pronged ends
Trilobed ends on a cross are typical of the Russian Orthodox Church. The lobes symbolize the three persons of the Trinity—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Greek Cross
The Greek cross is like the Latin one in that it was used by Christians, but mostly when Christianity was just starting. The Cross isn’t the same as the Latin cross, though, because it doesn’t have a long arm at the bottom. Instead, all four of its arms are the same length.
Saint Anthony Tau Cross
The Tau cross is a type of Cross that is only worn by a Catholic saint named Saint Anthony. It is also called the Saint Anthony the Abbot cross or the Crux Commissar. People say Saint Anthony is the Father of All Monks, and the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church give him a lot of importance. The T-shaped Tau cross is easy to spot because the top arm is missing.
Celtic cross
The Celtic cross is like a Latin cross, but in the middle of the four arms is a circle. The same Christian significance as the Latin cross is conveyed by this symbol. The only real difference is that it was most common in Ireland, Great Britain, and France from the 9th to the 12th centuries.
Church Cross
The Latin cross is the same shape as the Orthodox cross. The Cross is a sign of the crucifixion, just like the Latin cross is, but it has a few more details. For example, the diagonal line at the bottom stands for the thieves who were crucified alongside Jesus.
Affix the Cross
The Anchor Cross was one of the first symbols in Christianity that looked like a cross. The main thing that made it different from other crosses was that it pointed at the bottom, which looked like an anchor’s holder.
Russian Cross
The Orthodox Cross, which has an extra horizontal line above and a diagonal line below its center, is also called the Russian Cross.
New Ways to Use the Ankh
The Ankh is a cross with an oval on top. It represents the union of opposites (feminine and masculine) and is also the symbol for the planet Venus, which is why it is used in many feminine cults.
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The Ankh is a symbol of change or transformation. For Coptic Christians, it is also an image that shows what their faith is about. The Irish and Armenian crosses, which are probably based on the shape of the Ankh, also look similar.
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This symbol can be made of metal, metal alloys, gemstone carvings, crystals, or the surface of wood, clay, or stone. How the material is made depends on what it will be used for.
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It is suggested that metal Ankhs be used as personal amulets and carvings made of wood, clay, or stone to protect the home. In the same way, an Egyptian cross carved in glass can be a great talisman for good health.
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The Ankh is a powerful amulet that can be worn or kept at home. It can also be used in meditation to connect with spirituality or divine healing energy.
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To do this, the person must wear clothes that fit well and not put any pressure on their body. In the same way, he needs to get rid of any distractions.
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When you start meditating, you focus on your breath (take three deep breaths and let your body breathe on its own). When you feel like you’re in the present moment, you can imagine white light around you.
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Then, you start to see the shape of an Ankh, an Egyptian cross made of pure white light that sends you waves of peace and health. Thankful people accept the energy.
Frequently Asked Questions
People usually ask the following questions.
1. What does cross with circle on top mean?
Ankh is a cross with a loop on top representing “life” in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. Its Latin name is crux ansata (ansate, handle-shaped, cross). As a vivifying talisman, gods and pharaohs frequently hold or present the Ankh. The sign has the form of a sandal strap.
2. What does the circular cross mean?
The Coptic cross used by Coptic Orthodox Christians today comes in many different forms. The circle is a symbol of eternal and eternal love. In early Christianity, and especially in Eastern Christianity, the halo of Christ was usually depicted with the crown of the cross. The cross symbolizes Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.
3. What does the ankh cross represent?
For the Egyptians, the ankh symbol meant everlasting life and the gateway to the river Nile. Many believe that ancient Africans made the first cross, which they called the Ankh.
4. What sign represents death?
The skull and crossbones are well-known emblems for death. The emblem, which consists of a human skull and two crossed femurs, has been connected with death, poison, and pirates for centuries.
5. Why do the body wear ankhs?
Death wears an Ankh necklace pendant around her neck. According to her, the Ankh is the “most significant item in the cosmos” and acts as her sigil and a symbol of life.
6. What is a decent representation of life?
The Ankh is a cross-shaped sign with a teardrop loop instead of an upper bar, also known as the key to life. It is an Egyptian emblem representing immortality, life after death, and rebirth. The Ankh was also utilized in various positive statements and greetings, including “May you be healthy/alive.”
7. Does the Ankh symbolize God?
Ra, the sun deity, was shown clutching an ankh in his right hand to represent his creative ability. Anubis, the Egyptian deity of the death, would generally wear an ankh at the top of his staff or wand, signifying his authority over life and death. Other deities utilized the Ankh to represent their immortality and sovereignty.
8. Who wore the Ankh?
Egyptians frequently wore an ankh as a protective amulet, alone or in conjunction with two additional hieroglyphs indicating “strength” and “health.” Frequently, mirrors were fashioned in the form of an ankh.
9. Is it OK to wear an ankh?
You might not choose to wear an Ankh necklace instead of a Christian cross. However, it may be worn as a symbol of spirituality and vigor. The vast majority of world faiths have some concept of the afterlife and the transition from this life to the next.
10. What does the word “hope” mean?
All in all, the butterfly has come to stand for perseverance, life, hope, and change throughout history.
Conclusion:
The Ankh is a sign that looks like a cross and has a loop on top. At first glance, it looks like the Christian cross, but if you look more closely, you’ll see it’s not. The beauty of the Ankh isn’t just in how it looks but also in what it stands for: life. The ancient Egyptians utilized hieroglyphs to represent concepts and words. If you look at old writings and pictures, you can see that the Ankh symbol was used a lot and was a popular symbol.
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