I see, right, I'm not sniffing any more. If nobody's sure what an ankh is, I'm going back to my theory of it as the uterus, ovaries and birth canal. A pox on your umbilical cord!

I know it's the umbilical cord, I saw it on the television! Hawas himself said so, it must be true.

Well now, smartypants, Mr. Moderator turtonm doesn't seem to be so sure on that, does he?

Arrgh... defeated yet again by the weight of dummed down TV documentaries...

You may have won this time, marduck but I shall be back, and next time, I will succeed in my plans for Egyptological domination! Ahahaha!

(Storms out of forum, his dark leather cloak billowing in the wind. Manic laughter fades... roll credits...)

I am not sure which came first, but the ankh is the same shape as the typical egyptian mirror. Women used mirrors, thus the mirror was a symbol for women.

my 2¢

The ankh is the hieroglyph for life, not necessarily life being brought forth by women. It's used in standard formulas for wishing people well in the afterlife ("Life, Health/Stability, Strength be to you forever"), as well as in names which have no female concept in them (Tutankhamen = [tut = image] + [ankh = living] + [Amen = Amen (the chief god)].

The type of mirrors you refer to seem to have sexual connotations. The circular dish and two arms could be the sun rising above the papyrus marsh, the uraeus and horns of Hathor, goddess of love, in the shape of an ankh, or, as Egyptian art is deeply symbolic, all three.

Right, marduck, let's settle this once and for all - I'm bringing out my Middle Egyptian dictionary (Raymond O Faulkner).

It says:

(Picture of ankh) transliteration 'nH : symbol; a sandal strap.

Symbol and Magic in Egyptian Art (Richard H. Wilkinson) seems to suggest that the ankh itself is purely a symbol, but a symbol that could be reproduced by objects in the real world. We've already talked about the sun rising over the papyrus marsh, but it also could be symbolised by the papyrus swathe at banquets, and seems to have had associations with the air and breathing. The ankh also has connotations with the pubic triangle as well as solar connotations.

So, marduck, the 1996 edition of my Middle Egyptian dictionary says that the ankh is a sandle strap. My book on Egyptian art says that it was a potent symbol that was found in many different aspects of Egyptian life.

Well La Dee Da

(trembling) but but but everything I've ever seen about the Ankh says it means Eternal Life symbolized by the umbilical cord! Why can't these 'experts' keep their stories straight? Hawass & Mark Leher were on a PBS special about Egypt, not too dumbed down then is it. (shaking in boots, grabbing at straws) I'll bet the old Egyptians knew what it really met, tea time!

DH is an archaeologist---

They had a cartoon at work with two archaeologists examining an object they had just unearthed, trying to guess at what it was---

perhaps it was used for magical purposes?

maybe it was used to hold sacrificial blood?

on the end was a third archaeologist, saying:

that's my coffee mug, you idiots!

I think it applies here.

Yes Jess!
"It was used for ritual purposses"

Is the classic fallback meaning "who knows what the fuck this is'
who is DH?

[This message has been edited by marduck (edited May 24, 2001).]

Ulrich

You all have it wrong, the Ankh was simply a hood ornament for the Egyptian Chariot Companies 2000BCE line of Chariots. Everyone knows that this was the most espensive and widely coveted Chariot of the age, and much like today, common citizens began wearing the hood ornaments as jewelry. Soon the Egyptian Chariot Company even began marketing their own brand of products based upon the popular Ankh hood ornament. It wasn't long until everything, including mirrors, sandals, and bathroom fixtures began bearing the Ankh. Of course, soon therafter (ca.1700 BCE) tragedy struck the Egytian Chariot Company in the form of the Angel of Death, as the entire Board of Directors, as well as a good portion of the Engineering staff, consisted of first born sons.

DH= Dear Husband.

Yes, anything not known was 'ritual' or 'magic'. Have you read about the strange habits of the Nacerima? It was required reading for all UB anthropology students... Highly recommended...

We went out one year to riddle our lawn with those crystals which absorb water and prevent your lawn from dying from lack of rain--- and we over did it. First rainfall we had all these piles of beautiful wiggly crystals on our lawn.

We are on a walking route to school, and we freaked out the kids. DH overheard one little girl explaining that they were 'magic' to her friends. His first reaction? She's a natural anthropologist...

I preferred the kids who asked... silly me.

Ulrich--- I think you got it right!