Death and her Ankh

[miss5050]

Hi there :)
I'm big fan of Death series and Gaiman himself.
But I wanna ask 1question.

What means Ankh to Death?
Someone took it from her in "High Cost Of Living" and she just bought a new one. Does it mean, that Ankh is just a symbol of death? Or sth more? Like ppl can't die when she has no cross?

Thx 4 replies ;)

[Donald M.]

The Ankh symbol is based on an Egyptian heiroglyphic character that means "life" .

In tomb paintings and the like it was most often asociated with the gods and goddesses of the afterlife, granting the gift of life after death.

So, it's a symbol associated with the afterlife and deities associated with it. That's all.

As you may recall from Preludes & Nocturnes, an Endless's symbols of station are only that, symbols, unless the Endless in question chooses to infuse them with a bit of their power. Since Death was able to replace her ankh so easily, it can be safely assumed it contains none of her actual power. Perhaps it once did, but she probably learned a good lesson from what happened to her brother, especially since it's her they were really after.

[Headhunter]

What means Ankh to Death?
Someone took it from her in "High Cost Of Living" and she just bought a new one. Does it mean, that Ankh is just a symbol of death?
It shows that the message is more important than the symbol.

[miss5050]

yep I realized that guy Theo died even when Death was w/o cross
but why would blind man steal it? true power?

i got typo in my message, so this is clear:
ANHK is Egyptian symbol of life and soul
also Death symbol (Death as one of Endless siblings)
that's why she is my fav :) she likes ppl so much, cares about life. how happy she was when doors of hell were opened (till they didn't realize the trouble of course...)

[Gaz]

yep I realized that guy Theo died even when Death was w/o cross
but why would blind man steal it? true power?

i got typo in my message, so this is clear:
ANHK is Egyptian symbol of life and soul
also Death symbol (Death as one of Endless siblings)
that's why she is my fav :) she likes ppl so much, cares about life. how happy she was when doors of hell were opened (till they didn't realize the trouble of course...)
It may have power but only when it's hers. When it's stolen or given away it's not hers anymore. She gives it power, not the other way around.
The "just a symbol" explanation also makes sense, though.

[Dizzy D]

yep I realized that guy Theo died even when Death was w/o cross
but why would blind man steal it? true power?

The blind man thought it had power, because it was Death's ankh. But like Gaz explains if it has any power, it isn't inate. That's also why Death could replace it.

[miss5050]

okay and what if she cannot go back w/o it?
imo she is mortal w/o ankh-it can be replaced of course,
but remember guy from who she was buying a new one?
he was not that kind like others (giving stuff 4 free)...

[dancj]

I always thought she just wore the ankh because she's a goth

[Gaz]

I always thought she just wore the ankh because she's a goth
No, it's her sigil, just like Despair's hook.
(I don't remember any of the others, actually, what were they?)

[watchinginkdry]

No, it's her sigil, just like Despair's hook.
(I don't remember any of the others, actually, what were they?)

Destiny's was the book, Dream's was his helm, Destruction's was a--staff, I think? Desire's was a heart, but I forget what Delight/Delirium's was.

[Gaz]

Destiny's was the book, Dream's was his helm, Destruction's was a--staff, I think? Desire's was a heart, but I forget what Delight/Delirium's was.
It would have made sense for her not to have one, but it was the fish, wasn't it?
And Destruction's was a sword or axe, I think, the bindle came later.

[DMike]

Delirium's was a random swirl-type amorphous shape.

Destruction's was a sword, though his gallery sigil was always blacked out in the stories.

[miss5050]

siblings are my speciality :)
Destruction has sword
Destiny has book
Despair has mirror
Desire has heart
Dream has star
Death has ankh
and little Delirious has spiral
:)

[RawShark]

I think Death has very cute ankles.



what?



oh... never mind ;)

[Michael P]

It's the MacGuffin. It doesn't matter why it's important, just that it's important.

[Headhunter]

I think Death has very cute ankles.
This sort of debauchery is not permitted on CBR! ;)

[sunsetdayglo]

I don't think it is a mcguffin.
If you've ever read Joseph Campbell, you know the mythologist strongly influinces Gaiman. In his books he talks about the paradoxes of paired opposites, in this case death and life.
Beyond that, it's a great bit of characterization because it portrays death's love of life.
It plays on the same irony that makes the character great: even though she's Death incarnate, she's so full of vitality and has such a love of life.
Whether power's invested in it, or whatever, isn't really important. It's just something to move the plot along.

[sunsetdayglo]

I don't think it is a mcguffin.
If you've ever read Joseph Campbell, you know the mythologist strongly influinces Gaiman. In his books he talks about the paradoxes of paired opposites, in this case death and life.
Beyond that, it's a great bit of characterization because it portrays death's love of life.
It plays on the same irony that makes the character great: even though she's Death incarnate, she's so full of vitality and has such a love of life.

Whether power's invested in it, or whatever, isn't really important. It's just something to move the plot along.

Sorry for doubling up, all. Still learning the ropes here.

[miss5050]

when i think about it (again)
Death must have that cross :) to be real goth icon
to demonstrate her love to life and ppl (she is more human than many of us and she also looks cool-that's truly human thing)

[Timulty]

The Ankh has power but only if Death infuses it with such. Now prepare for some groans but the Death Manga by Jill Thompson DEATH: AT DEATH'S DOOR, shows just that.