Ankh

The ankh is one of the most recognizable symbols of ancient Egypt. It combines a tau cross (T-shape) with a teardrop loop at the top, forming a shape that represents the union of male and female principles and, by extension, life itself. Egyptian deities are frequently depicted holding the ankh, and it appears extensively in funerary art as a symbol of eternal life. The symbol was later adopted by Coptic Christians as the crux ansata.

The ankh first appears in Egyptian art during the Early Dynastic Period (c. 3100 BCE). Its exact etymology remains debated; proposed origins include a sandal strap, a mirror, or a stylized representation of the horizon.