Ankh

n. ancient Egyptian symbol that signifies longevity (resembles a cross with a loop as the upper shaft)

The ankh (symbol ) was the Egyptian hieroglyphic character that originally stood for the Egyptian word "mirror" or "image", but gradually became used to represent the word "life". Deities are often portrayed carrying it by its loop, or bearing one in each hand, arms crossed over their chest. It is also known as the Egyptian Cross, the key of life, or as crux ansata, Latin for "cross with a handle". It has been taken as a symbol by many Neopagans.
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Adventurers of the North - Kalevala Heroes (usually abbreviated to ANKH) is a fantasy role-playing game, based loosely on the Kalevala, the national epic of Finland. ANKH's system was quite similar to that of Dungeons & Dragons, with some elements borrowed from RuneQuest; A review in Finnish RPG magazine Sininen Lohikäärme compared the system to that of Tunnels & Trolls. ANKH was published by Nelospelit in 1989. The system was designed by Pasi Janhunen, who also provided some of the illustrations, the rest were drawn by Petri Hiltunen.
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[Egyptian] Found widely in Egyptian art, the ankh has come to symbolize life after death. Originally an Egyptian hieroglyphic representing the womb with its looped top, its meaning is related to matters concerning life and death, or rather, Eternal Life ("Nem Ankh"). In art, especially that depicting funeral ceremonies, their gods and goddesses are shown clutching the ankh by its loop as if it were a key. In this manner, it is believed that the ankh would open the gates of death on to immortality. It is also known as the Key of the Nile, representing the union of Isis and Osiris. It is said that this mystic union would initiate the annual flooding of the Nile, providing Egypt with her various means to survive. The meaning of the ankh as womb, thus fertility and reproduction, is well-illustrated in this particular legend.

Ank, Ankh (Egyptian) The symbol of life in ancient Egypt, represented as the tau-cross surmounted by a circle, and often called crux ansata (cross with a handle). Usually placed in the hand of every representation of god or goddess; likewise in the hand of the initiant, and again on the mummy. Also the present astronomical planetary sign for Venus; and the ansated cross reversed is the sign of the earth.

One meaning of the ankh is "esoterically, that mankind and all animal life had stepped out of the divine spiritual circle and fallen into physical male and female generation. This sign, from the end of the Third Race, has the same phallic significance as the 'tree of life' in Eden" (SD 2:30-1).

Synonyms and related words:
Calvary cross, Christogram, Greek cross, Jerusalem cross, Latin cross, Maltese cross, Russian cross, T, X, avellan cross, chi, chi-rho, christcross, crisscross, cross, cross ancre, cross botonee, cross bourdonee, cross fitche, cross fleury, cross formee, cross fourchee, cross grignolee, cross moline, cross of Cleves, cross of Lorraine, cross patee, cross recercelee, cross-crosslet, crossbones, crosslet, crucifix, cruciform, crux, crux ansata, crux capitata, crux decussata, crux gammata, crux immissa, crux ordinaria, dagger, ex, exing, fork cross, gammadion, inverted cross, long cross, papal cross, pectoral cross, potent cross, rood, saltire, swastika, tau, trefled cross, voided cross,