Key of Life (Ankh) double sided Sterling silver

The Key of Life (Ankh) double sided Sterling silver pendant is a beautiful addition to your unique collection. The Ankh is also known as key of life, the key of the Nile. It was the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic character that read “eternal life”. Egyptian gods often carry it by its loop, or bearing one in each hand, arms crossed over their chest. The Ankh is a representation of both Physical and Eternal life.

Egyptians associated the Ankh  with material things such as water, air, sun. As well as picturing the Gods frequently carrying an Ankh.

Furthermore, Egyptians chose most of the materials not just because their colors created a particular effect, but because colors for the Egyptians had an underlying symbolism or amulet significance.

Dark blue was the color of the all-embracing, protective night sky, of lapis lazuli- and of the deep-blue glazed composition and glass made to imitate it. Curiously enough the Late Dynastic Period used, khesbed, the principal word for lapis lazuli, like the word for turquoise, as a synonym for ‘delight’.

It is difficult to believe that the Egyptians could not really distinguish between blue and green. Yet the suggestion that the usage arose because of the linking over a long period of the materials turquoise and lapis lazuli is not very convincing.

Red was the colour of blood with all its connotations of energy, dynamism, power, even life itself. He was patron of disorder, storms and aridity, and murderer of his brother Osiris. This curious dichotomy is reflected in the fact that khenmet, the word for red jasper, was derived from the verb ‘to delight’.

At the same time Egyptians considered cornelain, with its orange-red hue, an ill-omened stone. Egyptian lapidary employed Sard the third red stone. From the New Kingdom on wards all three could be imitated by red glass and glazed composition.

Like all our other exquisite jewelry, this pendant is handcrafted, highly detailed, top quality & made to last a lifetime. Furthermore it bears the 925 silver stamp for authenticity purposes.

Additional info:

• Shipment of our Key of Life (Ankh) double sided  Sterling silver takes from 4-6 business days

• Shipping takes place from Egypt