The Egyptian Ankh or "Key of Life" handmade & hand painted Papyrus, 14" by 10 inches, Ancient Egyptian art, Frameable.

The Egyptian Ankh or "Key of Life" was an essential part of the ancient Egyptian mythology. The Ankh is one of the most recognizable symbols from ancient Egypt, known as "the key of life" or the "cross of life", and dating from the Early Dynastic Period (c. 3150 - 2613 BCE). It was essentially held by Egyptian Gods to represent their power to sustain life or revive the souls in the after life. The symbol is an Egyptian hieroglyph for "life" or "breath of life" (`nh = ankh) and, as the Egyptians believed that one's earthly journey was only part of an eternal life, the ankh symbolizes both mortal existence and the afterlife. Various manifestation of this eternal symbol was described of which it represents the female reproductive organs as a symbol of birth and the upper circle representing the female womb. This papyrus touches on this depiction, with winged scarab inside representing the ascending soul. No Egyptian temple or tomb was not adorned by "Ankh" key of life owning to its overpowering symbolism in Egyptian mythology. The papyrus paper is handmade in Egypt one of the few living arts from ancient times. Hand painted with vibrant colors.