14k Ankh Hoop Earrings

14k solid gold Ankh Earrings, handcrafted in Los Angeles using recycled gold.

The ankh, also known as the key of life, the key of the Nile or crux ansata (Latin meaning "cross with a handle"), was the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic character that read "eternal life". Egyptian gods are often portrayed carrying it by its loop, or bearing one in each hand, arms crossed over their chest. Egyptians believed that one's earthly journey was only part of an eternal life—the ankh symbolizes both mortal existence and the afterlife. It is known as the original cross, which is a powerful symbol that was first created by Africans in Ancient Egypt. The ankh may represent water, air, and the sun, which were meant to provide and preserve life in Ancient Egyptian culture. Other theories claim that the ankh could signify the cohesion of heaven and earth, interlinking male and female symbols.