The Ankh Cross and Freemasonry

Popularised by the counter-culture of the 1960s, the Ankh Cross is well known today, both in esoteric circles and among followers of Gothic culture, for whom it is often associated with vampires. The Ankh Cross is also widely used in the world of tattooing. But what exactly is the origin of the Ankh Cross ? What is the symbolic meaning of the Ankh Cross ? And does it have anything to do with Freemasonry and its symbolism? This is what we are going to find out.

The origin of the Ankh Cross

Also known as the Cross of Life or the Egyptian Cross, the Ankh Cross originated in ancient Egypt during the First Dynasty (3150-2850 BC). This symbol is frequently depicted in ancient Egyptian art, where it is usually held in the hands of the gods. A sign of the Higher Life of the divine, the Ankh Cross is often presented horizontally at the mouth of a figure (usually the Pharaoh), as if to infuse him with this life.

The name Ankh, or Anokh, means 'Life' or 'I am' in ancient Egyptian, and can certainly be related to the Hebrew Anokhi, 'I'. It thus refers to the profound nature of being, and probably originally to the very essence of the gods.

Some people believe that the Ankh Cross is the origin of the Christian Cross. But this is certainly an exaggeration, since the symbol of the cross is found in nearly all civilisations, with no obvious connection between them. It is a fact, however, that one particular Christian cross, the Coptic Cross, is descended in form from the Ankh Cross. The shape of the handle has simply become circular rather than oval.

Symbolic meaning of the Ankh Cross

As with all crosses, the Ankh Cross highlights a duality - the opposition between up and down, heaven and earth, matter and spirit. But the unique feature of this cross is its very particular shape : instead of being a simple intersection of a horizontal and a vertical line, it is shaped like a Tau cross topped by a kind of oval loop.

We could understand the vertical branch as an image of material life, concrete life. The arms of the Cross mark a limit and could be interpreted as a representation of physical death. And the loop that hangs over the whole could indicate the opening onto another level of consciousness and life, the afterlife. More precisely, some people see in this symbol a reference to the doctrine of reincarnation, with the curve of the handle representing the cycle of death and rebirth. This interpretation is interesting, but lacks any historical basis, as there is no evidence that the ancient Egyptians believed in reincarnation.

More generally, the Ankh Cross can be seen as an image of Heaven and Earth, and would thus fit in with the Masonic symbolism of the Square and Compass. The Tau Cross is shaped like a double square and could thus represent the material world, marked by the number Four, and the almost circular shape of the handle could evoke the Compass, symbol of Heaven, marked by the number One.

For others, the Ankh Cross would be a symbol uniting the masculine and feminine, the active and passive : the Tau Cross would thus be a phallic symbol, while the handle would evoke the womb. This interpretation would not be incompatible with what we know of Egyptian myths, where all the male gods had a wife and together they begat a son, thus forming a Triad (Osiris-Isis-Horus, Ptah-Sekhmet-Nefertum....).

As is the case with all symbols, everyone can find interpretations in a given symbol that resonate with them. The strength of the symbol lies in the fact that it opens up a field of multiple interpretations, in a form of creative process leading to a better understanding of oneself.

The Ankh Cross in Freemasonry 

The Ankh Cross is not a Masonic symbol, but it is often depicted on the Masonic regalia of the so-called Egyptian Rites. In the same way as the Scarab, the Eye of Horus or the Eye of Ra, the Ankh Cross appears in the Egyptian decor of these Rites, without playing any particular role in the rituals. At most, the Ancient Oriental Rite of Memphis includes it alongside the Acacia tree as a symbol of rebirth and regeneration.

Strangely enough, however, it is not in the Egyptian Masonic Rites, which began in the 18th century, that we find the oldest references to the Ankh Cross, but in an Order of the Templar movement : the Clerics of the Temple, a system of high degrees combining Rosicrucianism and Templarism, which claimed to be the survival of the priestly branch of the Order of the Temple and the only one to hold the true secrets of the Order. Founded in 1766 by the Protestant clergyman Johann August von Starck (1741-1816), the Clerics of the Temple joined the Strict Templar Observance at the Kohlo Convent in 1772. In the two highest degrees of this system, Novice and Canon, the altar was adorned with an Ankh Cross, which also appeared on the Order's official documents. It was interpreted in this system as the union of the masculine and feminine principles.

Finally, it should be noted that some believe that the Tau and Triple Tau of the Royal Arch date back to the Ankh Cross. The handle symbolising Heaven and transcendence would only be invisible, leaving only the shape of the Tau. This interpretation is rather audacious, but it is not without interest. However, we have not been able to verify its validity, and leave it to the Freemasons of the Royal Arch to decide.