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anneke Queen of Egypt


Joined: 23 Jan 2004 Posts: 9305
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Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:41 pm Post subject: The origins of the Ankh |
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This discussion/exploration I've been engaged in elsewhere so I thought I would share it and see what you think.
What does the Ankh sign depict?
Egyptologists do not have a commonly agreed upon theory about the origins of the ankh. Over the years several theories have been put forth. Below is a list of some of the proposed origins of the ankh:
A union of the male and female. (Thoman Inman, 1869)
The belt buckle of the mother goddess Isis. Similar to the Tyet symbol (also known as the Isis Knot). (Sir Wallis Budge, and later Westendorf)
A sandal strap where the loop is the part wrapping around the ankle. (Sir Alan Gardiner)
The sun crowning over the horizon.
The path of the sun from east to west (with the loop representing the Nile)
A stylized person
A combination of the male and female symbols of Osiris (the cross) and Isis (the oval) respectively, and therefore signifies the union of heaven and Earth.
(Pulled from wikipedia)
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Separately Philip G. (owner of pr kmt forum - Dutch language) suggested the following:
Winfred Blackman observed the following in the rural areas of Upper-Egypte in ca 1925. In her book ‘The Fellahin of Upper Egypt’ she writes p. 64: ‘Others [mothers of newborns] – and this is a very common traditions – take a piece of the umbilical cord and sow it into a piece of cotton; this is then hung around the neck of the child with a piece of cord.” On p. 79 there's a picture of such an umbilical cord wrapped in cotton, both ends tied together so that a circle is formed and so that this could even be worn around the neck of the child.
Considering the meaning of the word ankh, life, and this afore mentioned tradition that may reach back to Pharaonic times, it would not surprise me if the ankh represented the umbilical cord that would have originally been hung around the child's neck or waist to protect it and give it further life. (Idea originally communicated by Phillipe G., owner of the Dutch forum pr kmt and translated here.)
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And Nick suggested - based on visual interpretation - that the loop represents the trace the sun makes as it travels through the sky, the horizontal bars represent the horizon and the vertical bar represents the reflection of the sun in the water. Thereby having the ankh combine some of the very basic components of egyptian beliefs: water, the sun, and the land itself.
Any thoughts? Which theories seem likely? Unlikely? _________________ Math and Art: http://mathematicsaroundus.blogspot.com/ |
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Kiya Scribe


Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 235
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Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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I'm feeling it's the first one - the union of the male and female.  _________________
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Daughter_Of_SETI Divine Adoratrice

Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 2563 Location: Hull, UK
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Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 9:34 pm Post subject: |
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I always go with the sandal strap.  _________________
In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this - Terry Pratchett. |
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Gerard. Scribe

Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Posts: 492 Location: France
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:12 pm Post subject: |
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The path of the sun from east to west (with the loop representing the delta) Life needs sun and water. |
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Osiris II Vizier

Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 1752
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 9:54 pm Post subject: |
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I think the idea of Occam's Razor would apply here.
I agree--sandal strap. |
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anneke Queen of Egypt


Joined: 23 Jan 2004 Posts: 9305
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 10:12 pm Post subject: |
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I'm not sure why the sandal strap would be a case of Occam's Razor here. The idea from linguistics that there has to be a connection between the sandal and life because their words sound similar is a rather outdated one. That line of reasoning is no longer accepted by linguists.
I'm not sure why a sandal would represent life? I guess that off all the theories listed I personally find that one the least likely.
The stylized person or the umbilical cord theory makes much more sense to me. Or even the sun rising over the horizon for that matter. _________________ Math and Art: http://mathematicsaroundus.blogspot.com/ |
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neseret Vizier


Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 1033 Location: United Kingdom
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Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 10:16 pm Post subject: Re: The origins of the Ankh |
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anneke wrote: |
What does the Ankh sign depict?
Egyptologists do not have a commonly agreed upon theory about the origins of the ankh. Over the years several theories have been put forth. Below is a list of some of the proposed origins of the ankh:
A union of the male and female. (Thoman Inman, 1869)
The belt buckle of the mother goddess Isis. Similar to the Tyet symbol (also known as the Isis Knot). (Sir Wallis Budge, and later Westendorf)
A sandal strap where the loop is the part wrapping around the ankle. (Sir Alan Gardiner)
The sun crowning over the horizon.
The path of the sun from east to west (with the loop representing the Nile)
A stylized person
A combination of the male and female symbols of Osiris (the cross) and Isis (the oval) respectively, and therefore signifies the union of heaven and Earth.
(Pulled from wikipedia)
________________________________
Separately Philip G. (owner of pr kmt forum - Dutch language) suggested the following:
Winfred Blackman observed the following in the rural areas of Upper-Egypte in ca 1925. In her book ‘The Fellahin of Upper Egypt’ she writes p. 64: ‘Others [mothers of newborns] – and this is a very common traditions – take a piece of the umbilical cord and sow it into a piece of cotton; this is then hung around the neck of the child with a piece of cord.” On p. 79 there's a picture of such an umbilical cord wrapped in cotton, both ends tied together so that a circle is formed and so that this could even be worn around the neck of the child.
Considering the meaning of the word ankh, life, and this afore mentioned tradition that may reach back to Pharaonic times, it would not surprise me if the ankh represented the umbilical cord that would have originally been hung around the child's neck or waist to protect it and give it further life. (Idea originally communicated by Phillipe G., owner of the Dutch forum pr kmt and translated here.)
__________________________________
And Nick suggested - based on visual interpretation - that the loop represents the trace the sun makes as it travels through the sky, the horizontal bars represent the horizon and the vertical bar represents the reflection of the sun in the water. Thereby having the ankh combine some of the very basic components of egyptian beliefs: water, the sun, and the land itself.
Any thoughts? Which theories seem likely? Unlikely? |
There's also a theory, which was presented at the ICE in 2000, that the /anx/ symbol presented a detailed symbol of female genitalia as presented at birth, symbolised by the /sA/ sign and the girdle knot (Gardiner sign S24), which represented the vagina and uterus conjoined.
Presented at ICE 2000 as (but never published):
Tredinnick, Stephen. 2000. The Origin of the Ankh: A Theory in Support of Ancient Egyptian Intelligence.
I see you also didn't mention the "ankh as symbol for a penis sheath" theory. On this, see
Baines, J. 1975. 'Ankh-Sign, Belt and penis Sheath. SAK 3: 1-24.
Friedman, F. D. 1995. The Underground Relief Panels of King Djoser JARCE Vol. 32: 1-42 (specifically Fig. 17).
I have no specific allegiance to these (or any other) theories about the /anx/, but wished to note additional theories.
HTH. _________________ Katherine Griffis-Greenberg
Doctoral Candidate
Oriental Institute
Oriental Studies
Doctoral Programme [Egyptology]
Oxford University
Oxford, United Kingdom |
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anneke Queen of Egypt


Joined: 23 Jan 2004 Posts: 9305
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Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 1:30 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for adding those neseret. I had not heard of any of those, but I can see why people would pose these theories. _________________ Math and Art: http://mathematicsaroundus.blogspot.com/ |
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freeTinker Scribe


Joined: 27 Jan 2009 Posts: 397 Location: USA - Northeast
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:52 am Post subject: |
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Just to add another possibility... (although all ideas and theories can be valid)
The association of the Ankh with Life or Lifeforce on numerous levels (think Osiris as the 'green' vegitation/regenerative 'energy') may indicate the Ankh as being a physical representation of an actual SEED PLANTER
Given the great value placed on grain, crop and land-use individual grains planted at specified depths, specific distances apart might be seen as a 'life-giving' efficiency - this ancient key (agricultural tool) could then have passed through the ages to become a representation of the lifeforce itself
Of course, this 'tool' could then have been seen as a representation (due to shape etc.,) of the sun and its course through the heavens, ie; multiple levels of understanding
Just wanted to add the thought to the body of thinking...  |
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dzama923 Scribe


Joined: 15 Jul 2014 Posts: 348 Location: Stamford, Connecticut
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Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2017 6:15 am Post subject: |
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I have heard it was the symbol of eternal life.
I have also heard that it had to do with water, and it was literally the balance of water. This makes sense to me because there is a hieroglyph of Horus and Thoth pouring out ankhs onto the pharaoh. Something associated with water makes sense in this usage. The term described by Mark Lehner is asgat nefer, balance of water, this heiroglyph is found in the temple of Maya.
Actually that was my broken understanding of what I remembered to have read. It says actually that the ankh was life, and that water was important to life. Asgat Nefer was a key principle. The hieroglpyh for asgat nefer were three combined... A bowl above, and a calf with a knee water spout beneath and to the left, and beneath and to the right was the sign for goodness, a sort of standing oval with a cross coming up. That was asgat nefer.
reference: The Land of Osiris Stephen S. Mehler. |
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Lutz Pharaoh


Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 3824 Location: Berlin, Germany
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Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2017 7:51 am Post subject: |
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dzama923 wrote: | ... The term described by Mark Lehner is asgat nefer, ... |
 _________________ Ägyptologie - Forum (German) |
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Lutz Pharaoh


Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 3824 Location: Berlin, Germany
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Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2017 9:30 am Post subject: |
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" Mark Lehner, Egyptologist " (Tour Egypt - Jimmy Dunn)
Quote: | ... Originally, Mark Lehner traveled to Egypt as a tourist in 1972. However, he was at that time a devotee of the ideas of Edgar Cayce (the Sleeping Profit) who is will known by ancient Egypt enthusiasts. Edgar Cayce was a mystic who believed that the civilization of Disney Land had entrusted their knowledge and technology to the ancient Egyptians. ...
... Mark Lehner traveled to Egypt in order to further that claim, as well as other visions of Edgar Cayce. He even published at least one book in support of Edgar Cayce's claims (The Egyptian Heritage, 1974). It is perhaps interesting that fringe elements continue today to reference this early work of Dr. Lehner, because long ago he became a convert to more traditional Egyptology. ... |
_________________ Ägyptologie - Forum (German) |
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dzama923 Scribe


Joined: 15 Jul 2014 Posts: 348 Location: Stamford, Connecticut
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Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2017 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry about that... There is a mistake in my earlier post. What I said was Quote: | The term described by Mark Lehner is asgat nefer, balance of water | , what I meant to say was that Stephen S Mehler describes the hieroglyph and concept asgat nefer. I got the names confused. |
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Lutz Pharaoh


Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 3824 Location: Berlin, Germany
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Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2017 4:25 pm Post subject: |
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Are there no vacancies in the local mental hospitals?  _________________ Ägyptologie - Forum (German) |
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dzama923 Scribe


Joined: 15 Jul 2014 Posts: 348 Location: Stamford, Connecticut
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Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2019 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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It seems to me, also, that it doesn't necessarily have to mean just one thing. Egyptian hieroglpyhs are unique in that way, that symbols can mean a multiplicity of things, and combine to mean other things.
The ankh seems to me, to be some sort of tool. I see it most commonly carried by the gods, and being fed to the Gods and pharaohs in the temple wall inscriptions.
I do not see why it could not mean sandal strap, also. Sandals were a symbol of culture, having tamed the natural forces and created a civilized life.
The symbol itself appears time and again, in the natural world. Which is why I see that it could have meant the sun over the horizon, or the path of the Sun from east to west.
It is even depicted as a stylized person in the papyri of "the Book of the Dead" by Raymond O'Faulkner, where the ankh has arms holding up the sun disk. |
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