Andara Ankh

The ankh becomes a physical object representing life and life-giving necessities like air and water. It appears in every form of Ancient Egyptian art, from paintings and reliefs to statuary and amulets. Often, deities are depicted holding an ankh to symbolize their power to sustain life on Earth and impart eternal life after death. Tombs frequently show the god offering the ankh up to the lips of the deceased pharaoh, using it as a key to restore energy and unlock immortality. In these instances, the ankh can be more specifically assumed to represent air or the breath of life. Similarly, chains of ankhs were often used to indicate streams of water, particularly for the ceremonial purification.