The religious beliefs and traditions of ancient Egyptians were complex, but well-placed. Therefore it is no wonder that Egyptian religious life was characterized by a number of symbols and representations. Egyptian symbols are known all over the world because of the mysteries they hold.

Egyptian Symbols

Depicted in hieroglyphs, these symbols were called, “the words of God” and were used mainly by priests. Enormous symbols were articulated by Egyptians, only a few are listed below.

Ankh: Ankh was the symbol of eternal life. The hieroglyphic character “Ankh” basically meant “life” giving elements of air and water. The horizontal and vertical bars of the cross represented the feminine and masculine energy, suggesting fertility and creative power.

The gods are often seen holding an ankh to someone’s lips this is considered to be an offering of “The Breath of Life” which you will need in the afterlife. It was sometimes called ‘The key of Life’. A combination of two universal Egyptian Symbols, the cross and the circle; the Ankh also evokes images of the sun rising over the crossbar path of the horizon, indication daily rebirth.

Maat and the Feather of Maat:

Maat represented justice, order, truthfulness, morality and balance. Gods are often seen standing on the symbol of Maat, the symbol of justice. Feather of Maat was the feather that adorned a goddess called Maat. It was Pharaoh’s responsibility to establish and uphold Maat. Maat was lost when a Pharaoh died. It could be restored only by the coronation of a new Pharaoh.Egyptians had strong afterlife beliefs according to which the hearts of the deceased were weighed against Maat’s Feather at the final judgment. A heart which was heavy with sin weighed more than the feather and the deceased was punished by Ammit, the monster.If the heart weighed lesser than the feather, it meant that the heart was free of sins and the person was allowed to the world of Osiris.Bast-The cat goddess:

Bast was the daughter of Ra, the sun god. She was associated with both fertility and childbirth. She was also the goddess of music, dancing and joy. According to one myth, she was the personification of the soul of Isis. She was also called the “Lady of the East”. Figures of cats were offered to the goddess Bast to receive her blessings of music, dance and love.

The Eye of Horus/Wedjet/Udjat:

It symbolised protection, wisdom and health. This symbol is also called the Eye of Ra. Horus, also known as the sun god Ra, was a falcon-headed sky god. He is associated with vitality, health and perfection.

Horus was the son of Osiris and Isis. His right eye was white, and represented the sun, and his left eye was black, and represented the moon.

The legend goes like this: Seth, Horus’s brother, killed Osiris. Horus fought Seth to avenge this death and lost his left eye in the fight. Thoth, the God of magic and the moon, used his powers to restore Horus’s eye. Upon presenting his eye to Osiris, Osiris experienced rebirth. The Eye of Horus also symbolised restoration, magic and intuition.

Amenta:

Amenta represented the ‘Land of the dead’ or the world beneath the real world; the Underworld. Originally it meant the horizon of the sun set. Later, it became the symbol of the west bank of the Nile, where the sun set and also where the Egyptians traditionally buried their dead.

The symbol of power and dominion was the ‘Was’.’Ka’ represented conscience. ‘Sesen’, the Lotus symbolised the creation, purity and rebirth. ‘Akh’ represented ‘effectiveness’ and ‘Ba’ represented ‘soul’. Frog was the symbol of life, regeneration and fertility.

The list of Egyptian symbols is incomplete. However, they effectively illustrate the belief system of an ancient community.