What the ankh means
The ankh ☥ is the ancient Egyptian hieroglyph for life. In tomb paintings and temple carvings, gods hold it by its loop or offer it to the nose of a pharaoh, giving the breath of life. That is why it is often called the key of life.
The ankh often appears with the djed pillar 𓊽, a sign of stability, and the was sceptre 𓌀, a sign of power. It also opens the phrase "life, prosperity, health" 𓋹𓍑𓋴, written after a pharaoh's name. Egyptologists still debate what object the shape first showed; a sandal strap and a knotted cloth are among the suggestions.
The ankh after ancient Egypt
Early Christians in Egypt, the Copts, adopted the ankh as a form of cross, known in Latin as the crux ansata, or "cross with a handle".
Today you see ☥ in jewelry, tattoos and goth fashion, and as a sign of pride in African and Egyptian heritage. It is also a natural pick for anything Egypt-themed, from game usernames to history notes. For more signs from the same world, browse the Egyptian symbols page.
Ankh ☥ vs 𓋹 and how to type it
☥ (U+2625) lives in the Miscellaneous Symbols block, so it shows on almost every device. 𓋹 (U+132F9) is the real hieroglyph from the Egyptian Hieroglyphs block and needs a font that covers hieroglyphs, so it can appear as an empty box on older phones and computers. Don't confuse either with the female symbol ♀︎, which has a round circle instead of a loop, or with the Latin cross ✝︎.
In Microsoft Word, type 2625 and press Alt + X. In HTML, write ☥. On a Mac, open the Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space and search "ankh".