12.++Cultural+Stick+Project

=Egpytian Ankh Sam Dicke=

The ankh is an ancient Egpytian hierogylpic character that stood for "eternal life." It often appears in the hands of Egpytian gods in egpytian art.

Egpytians used gold or copper for their ankh amulets and symbols because they associated the ankh with the sun. I'm going to make mine out of a wooden stick that I spray paint.

The original stick

First, I cut the stick into four parts--the shaft, the cross, and the two top pieces I will later make the loop out of.

The stick is in four pieces now.

This is me sawing out a half circle out of one of the top pieces. I did the same to the other one.

Here are all of the pieces.

This was what it looked like with all four parts glued together, before I spray-painted it.

Spray painting... and finished product.

**Connection to History**
The origins of the egpytian ankh hierogylph are unclear. However, its meaning of "life" makes it a common religious and artistic symbol. In art, it was often shown in the hands of the gods and goddesses, emphasizing their immortal status. Chains of ankh's were shown pouring out of water over the king as a symbol of regeneration. As a religious symbol, the ankh held a prominent place in egpytian worship and burial. In the tombs of pharohs, objects such as spoons and mirrors could be found in the shape of an ankh. However, the ankh could also be found in common everyday objects like amulets and other trinkets. Historians disagree about the true meaning of the ankh. Some believe it is a symbol of fertility, others think it represents the nile, and yet other historians believe it merely represents a sandal strap. It appears to have transcended illiteracy, surfacing in everything from upper-class art to a potter's stamp. It holds many different meanings, but the one of "eternal life" is the most widespread. Much like the Christian symbol of the cross in later times, the ankh gave common egpytians an easy symbol to identify with and associate with worship.

=Cultural Stick Project= Plan Pictures Script Narration Connection to History