The upper part of the Ankh is a loop representing the All, Perfection, and God’s Plan. This circle is joined to a horizontal line, the arm of the Tau, that symbolises the material plane of human existence. These two symbols blend together into the vertical segment of the T, which represents “the product of divine force that gives life to the matter” (Giovanni Grasso).
A key aspect is the Tau‘s proportions: connecting the extremities of the horizontal segment with the lowest point of the vertical line results in an equilateral triangle. The triangle is an important symbol for mankind, and it represents the Trinity and connection with the divine.

The Circle and the Tau are therefore the main two elements constituting the Ankh. Its geometry is simple, but its proportions are very precise because each dimension is created in connection with the others. In the book “The Power of the Symbol” by author Giovanni Grasso, it is explained how the entire shape of the Ankh can be inscribed in a rectangle displaying the perfect golden ratio.

To better understand its geometry, let’s analyse the symbol in detail:

• The horizontal arm placed at a specific height is the base of an equilateral triangle.
• The loop on top of the horizontal arm can be perfectly inscribed in that same rectangle, which is why it’s droplet-shaped rather than a perfect circle.
• The two arms become progressively thicker the farther away from the centre of the Key.
• The meeting point of the loop and the T is the centre of the Key and it’s the reference point for the arms’ thickness. This feature lends symmetry and harmony to the symbol.

The Ankh can be found in symbols as well as nature, both in the micro and macrocosm. For instance, it is present within the human body in the so called Willis polygon, or circle of Willis – an intricate network of arteries at the base of the brain, whose shape is reminiscent of the Ankh. Another example can be seen in pictures of the Earth’s magnetic field distorted by the solar wind, where magnetic force lines entwine and draw a figure remarkably similar to the Ankh.

The oldest traces of depictions of the Ankh trace back to Ancient Egypt, more precisely to the pre-dynastic period, about 5170 years ago. This icon appears in several Egyptian tombs belonging to Pharaohs, as a gift given by deities as a symbol of eternal life. The most famous Ankh, discovered in Tutankhamun’s tomb, represents the passage into the afterlife. In the Roman culture, the Ankh was represented and used as a symbol of fertility. In ancient times, Ankh-shaped objects were also created to have practical uses, such as mirrors inserted in the loop. In the Egyptian culture, life on earth was considered a mirror of the afterlife, and the mirror was regarded as an object capable of containing mysterious meanings.