What are the various forms of the Coptic cross?

The tree of life: This was well known among the pagan nations, often taking the shape of the cross (like the shape of the letter “T”). The idea of the tree of life started in the days of Adam, who knew its location in the middle of Eden (Gen. 2:9). It was a symbol of Christ the giver of life. The ancient Egyptians believed that there was a sycamore tree (sycamore means the illumination of the sun’s fire) in which the gods sit, and which is the tree of life from which the gods and the righteous feed.

The pharaonic cross, the sign of ankh or life: This is found in the most sacred hieroglyphic writings. Also known as the key of life¹²⁴³ or the Key of the Nile, the Copts adopted it, being the decedents of the pharaohs.

The tau cross: The tau cross is shaped like the Greek letter tau , which is the first letter of the word Theos meaning God.¹²⁴⁴ In fact, the letter T or tau has an Egyptian origin. Ancient Egyptians believed that the earth was created by the word of the god Thoth.¹²⁴⁵ For this reason, they called their first month of the year, Thoth.