ankh tattoos have become very popular among tattoo lovers due to their beautiful design and deep meaning. If you haven’t reviewed ankh tattoos before, today is the day you should read about it in full before deciding which type of ankh tattoo design suits you best.
importance of the ankh symbol in Egyptian culture
Ruled by the god Osiris, ancient Egypt was one of the most advanced civilizations in history.
Thousands of years ago, they laid the foundations of the modern alphabet, invented surgery, and knew astronomy beyond that of the Greek astronomers. they were one of those cultures that held knowledge in high esteem and respected it as a precious gift bestowed by their gods.
The symbol is associated with many Egyptian gods, from Anubis to Ra and Osiris. There are several legends and mythological stories that tell us how important this symbol was for the ancient pharaohs.
the egyptian god ‘anubis’ is depicted with the head of a jackal. he is known as “the lord of minor antiquities” among the Egyptians. His duties include guiding souls through their final journey to Osiris, taking them to his courtroom where he weighs their hearts against his magical ostrich feather that represents truth and justice.
The most interesting thing about this god is that he guided osiris during his final judgment against set, even though osiris was his father. he is depicted with the head of a jackal for his faithful service to osiris, lord of the underworld.
what does an ankh tattoo mean?
The ankh tattoo is a symbolic cross with a bow on top. represents life, energy and power. the symbol has been used as a hieroglyph meaning “eternal life”. Today, it is known to represent youth, fertility and sexual potency. it is associated with eternal life or the fertility of youth, and also has strong spiritual meanings in Roman culture.
Egyptian godsra and osiris are often depicted carrying an ankh for their lasso. In mythology, Isis was believed to have given Osirus the ankh to help him traverse the underworld after his death so she could revive him. according to wiki: “the egyptians also believed that in the afterlife they would be judged by osiris based on how they had lived their lives” if you have this kind of tattoo design on your body, you must believe in that kind of idea.
As a symbol of ancient Egypt, it has had several names, such as “key of life”, “the key of eternity” and crux ansata (Latin for “handled cross”), which was often used as an amulet from Roman times. especially in mummy wraps to ensure safety after death. this writing instrument represented the spring from which divine words sprouted; in short, it was a graphical representation of the language itself.
The ankh was also known as the key to life in Greek and Norse culture. although they adopted the symbol at the time of the Renaissance. It has also been related to the sun as the ankh is a powerful symbol of life and fertility. the Egyptian word for “life” is “breath,” which forms an ankh-like shape as you inhale and exhale.
ankh tattoo ideas
ankh appears in different cultures around the world because it represents the eternal life that every human being wishes to have, just as all humans are born into this world. Egyptian hieroglyphs were composed around 2000 BC. c. and many envision them as a picture writing system where they would draw symbols and what those symbols meant.
however, the symbols used in hieroglyphic writing had more than one meaning, so the word “breath” means both life and wind. the hieroglyph also appears in different forms of ancient art.
here we have chosen more than 180 beautiful ankh tattoo designs inspired by famous egyptian mythological tales. These designs are suitable for both men and women, so take a look.
ankh tattoo designs
ankh tattoo on hand
female ankh tattoo
read also – anubis tattoo
ankh tattoo on chest
conclusion
Ankh tattoo designs are not new, however, you should know that you have a responsibility if you choose this tattoo design. If you don’t have roots in the Egyptian culture, educate yourself so as not to disrespect the feelings of an Egyptian person.
You should always wear religious designs on your upper body, so whichever design you choose from our photo gallery, have it inked on your chest or neck.
references: ankh wiki
