There’s no denying that the Egyptians are one of the most fascinating cultures in history. They were clever, resourceful and skilled at building some of the most enduring monuments we’ve ever known. But the truth is, their achievements aren’t limited to engineering feats like pyramids and temples—their art and symbolism is just as awe-inspiring as their architecture. So if you’re a fan of Egyptian culture or simply interested in learning more about it, here are some symbols from ancient Egypt that will give you insight into its past:
The Ankh
The Ankh is a symbol of life and eternal life. It represents the breath of life, and it was believed that the Sun was actually a god. The Ankh was also known as “the key of life” because it was thought to provide access to immortality through entering into heaven.
The Eye of Horus
The Eye of Horus is a symbol of protection and royal power. It was associated with the goddess Wadjet, who was often depicted as a woman with a cobra on her forehead. The eye itself represented Ra, the sun god, and was sometimes referred to as “the right eye of Ra” or “the left eye of Horus.” In addition to this, the Eye was also connected to Thoth (or Hermes), who was believed to have created it during one of his many journeys into the underworld.
The Eye of Ra
The Eye of Ra is a powerful symbol in ancient Egyptian mythology. It represents the sun and the sun god Ra, who was considered to be creator of all life on earth. The Eye of Ra amulet was believed to give its owner strength, protection and good luck. The symbol consists of an eye inside a triangle or circle with rays coming out from it. The eye itself has been interpreted as representing many things including wisdom, knowledge, immortality and spirituality while the triangle represents stability and strength while also representing three stages: past present future (our current time).
The Scarab Symbol
The scarab symbol is a symbol of creation and rebirth that represents the sun, as well as the cycle of life. This ancient Egyptian symbol has been used since at least 3200 B.C., when it was found on pottery in Hierakonpolis. It’s thought to have been derived from an actual insect called a dung beetle, which rolls balls of feces in order to bury them and lay its eggs inside. The Egyptians saw this behavior as symbolic of how their god Khepri created all things out of nothing (by rolling his sun disk across the sky), or how Ra renewed himself each day by rising over Abydos before setting in evening at sunset (a journey similar to rolling balls). The scarab became associated with several gods–including Atum-Ra, Ptah-Sokar-Osiris and Amun–and was often carved onto amulets worn for protection against evil spirits or disease; these were placed under beds or buried near tombs so that the deceased could rise up into heaven again just as surely as did Ra every morning after dying each evening only hours before!
The Djed Pillar
The Djed Pillar, also known as the “backbone of Osiris,” was a symbol of stability and strength. The pillar represented the backbone of this ancient Egyptian god. The image of this pillar can be seen on many artifacts from different time periods throughout history, including sculptures and tomb paintings. The djed is also associated with resurrection and rebirth because it looks like a cross between an S-shape and an hourglass shape with arms outstretched downward at each end (kinda looks like an upside down octopus). To add to its significance, it’s often depicted being held up by two snakes (one on either side) who represent good luck in Egyptian culture!
Hekha and Nekhakha
The Hekha and Nekhakha are two snakes that can be found on the headdress of the god Amun. They represent the two powers of creation, the sun and moon. The snakes are always depicted with their heads facing up and they are thought to be a symbol of fertility.
We hope that you’ve enjoyed learning about the ancient Egyptian symbols. They are a fascinating part of history and can offer many insights into what life was like for people who lived thousands of years ago. As we mentioned earlier, these six symbols represent just a small sample of what was used in daily life by this culture; there are many more out there waiting to be discovered!
