Is the Egyptian anhk really a fertility symbol?

Question

We so often debase spiritual things to the mundane. Symbolizing the Masculine and Feminine with images of human genitalia. It looks like a symbol for humanity to me. The head, and arms outstretched, like the Christian cross symbol.
Which is the equal-sided cross symbol of the four directions, with a longer base, symbolizing the form of humanity and our Creators reaching out to humanity through Christ's sacrifice.

Answer 1

what it represented to them "then" and what we perceive it to be "now" are 2 different things

if they say it was 'life' then what is the symbol of death?

Answer 2

Egyptian Fertility Symbol

Answer 3

The ankh is the ancient Egyptian hieroglyph that translates into "life." It is a depiction of a sandal strap, not genitalia. (You can easily find how the ancient Egyptians depicted genitalia, and it looks nothing like the ankh.) The ankh is way older than the Christian cross by thousands of years, and the two are totally unrelated.

However, in art the ankh could represent fertility, or at least procreation. There are some images of a God passing an ankh to a queen, and it represents him impregnating her by giving her some "life," which will be a new baby - the next pharaoh.

As for the cross with 4 equal sides, it is the Coptic cross, which is used in Coptic Christianity. The Copts are from Egypt as well.

Answer 4

The ankh was the Egyptian hieroglyphic shape that stood for the Egyptian word for 'Life'.
The exact origin of the symbol is unknown but there is one theory that posits the shape is a combination of both the male and the female genitalia, but this is in no way meant to be degrading. The upper circular shape is said to represent the female, the vulva in particular, and the lower 'T' shape resembles the male, specifically the testicles and the penis. Hence the reference to 'Life' as these two parts of humans come together to create a new life. There is nothing debasing about it.
Another theory posits it represents the sun coming up over the horizon, signifying a new day or rebirth.
Still others insist it is a representation of the human figure with outstretched arms.
An early Christian cult, the Coptics, used it as a symbol of life after death.
Modern Rosicrucians encourage the view that it can unlock the gates of Heaven because of its key-like shape.
Generally modern society regards the ankh as a symbol for life and immortality.

Answer 5

The Ankh is a symbol of life and fertility in the sense of perpetuation.
It is often seen being held by the Egyptian gods Isis, Osiris and Anubis giving them the power of life and death. It symbolises the immortality of the soul in this way it represents eternity.
The Tau cross with a loop is thought to depict both Heaven or the Sun and Earth. The perfect balance between the masculine and the feminine which is the integration of opposites, active and passive.
It is this union which creates the possibility of the will or a seperate life.
Later called the Key of life because the understanding of all these principles are required to access the Gates of Heaven.

Answer 6

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Is the Egyptian anhk really a fertility symbol?
We so often debase spiritual things to the mundane. Symbolizing the Masculine and Feminine with images of human genitalia. It looks like a symbol for humanity to me. The head, and arms outstretched, like the Christian cross symbol.
Which is the equal-sided cross symbol of the four directions, with...

Answer 7

I was told by an Egyptian who was a graduate in history the it was the key to life

Answer 8

It's spelled 'ankh,' and I think it's a character in their system of writing--their alphabet, as it were. My understanding is that it symbolizes fertility.

Answer 9

It generally symbolized 'life'.
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/ankh.htm

Answer 10

I thought it meant life