Horus

Statue of Horus in Egypt

Horus was the Egyptian god of the Sky. He was the son of Isis and Osiris. After fighting his uncle, Set (Osiris and Isis' brother) he became the king of Egypt. During this fight, he lost his eye. The Eye of Horus became one of the most important symbols in ancient Egypt and Egyptian civilization. When Horus lost his eye, his eye set out on a journey of its own. When the other Gods tried to catch the eye, his eye began to cry. These tears became the first people of Egypt in Egyptian belief.

The Eye of Horus

The Eye of Horus, also known as wadjet eye, wedjat eye or udjat eye, is an ancient Egyptian symbol of protection, royal power, and good health. The Eye of Horus is similar to the Eye of Ra, which belongs to a different god, Ra, but represents many of the same concepts. According to Egyptian myth, Horus lost his left eye in a struggle with Set. The eye was magically restored by Hathor, and this restoration came to symbolize the process of making whole and healing. For this reason, the symbol was often used in amulets.

Worship

Horus, was worshiped all over Egypt, especially in Pe, Bendet and Khem. There were many falcon gods before Horus, but eventually Horus represented all of them. He was worshiped until the end of the Pre-Dynastic period. In Upper Egypt (south), in the town of Edfu, was Ptolemaic, a temple for Horus. In Kom Ombo, there was another temple for Horus called the Kom Ombo temple. Horus was a good friend of Sobek. He was also worshipped as a guide to the pharaohs.

Physical appearance

Horus was considered handsome and usually appeared as a falcon or a falcon headed man, although sometimes he appeared as a falcon headed crocodile. Sometimes he would take the form of a celestial falcon with his left eye the moon and his right eye the sun, his speckled breast feathers the stars, the down sweep of his wings creating the winds. He is sometimes shown with a copper knife. In addition, he normally wore the double crown to signify his rule over all of Egypt and to relate with the Pharaoh.

Purpose

Horus was the god of the sky and also the God of war. The pharaoh ruling at any given time of Egypt was always the living image of Horus. When he died, that pharaoh became Osiris, the god of the dead and the father of Horus. The new pharaoh became Horus. His purpose was to protect the pharaoh. He was a protector god, who was a god who fought evil. He represented justice and righteousness. He fought with Seth to avenge his father, Osiris, who was killed by Seth. When Horus defeated Seth, he conquered his father, Osiris', throne, and became protector.

Horus Media

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  Le roi Ramsès parmi les dieux (Louvre, B 13)

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  Osiris is depicted on a lapis lazuli pillar in the center, flanked by Horus on the left and Isis on the right in this Twenty-second Dynasty statuette

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  Horus, Louvre, Shen rings in his grasp

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  Detail of Horus's face, from a statue of Horus and Set placing the crown of Upper Egypt on the head of Ramesses III. Twentieth Dynasty, early 12th century BC.

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  Eye of Horus or Wedjat

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  Horus spears Set, who appears in the form of a hippopotamus, as Isis looks on

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  A personified Eye of Horus offers incense to the enthroned god Osiris in a painting from the tomb of Pashedu, thirteenth century BC

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  Horus and Set binding together upper and lower Egypt

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  Horus represented as a crowned falcon

References

• Hinds, Kathryn. Religion and Life in Ancient Egypt
• Hart, George. Ancient Egypt
• Harris, Geraldine. Gods & Pharaohs from Egyptian mythology
• Wilkinson, Richard. The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt.
• Nardo, Don. Egyptian Mythology.
• Vernus, Pascal. The Gods of Ancient Egypt.
• David, Rosalie. Religion and Magic in Ancient Egypt.
• “ Horus.” Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica
• Harris, Geraldine and Pemberton, Delia. Illustrated Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt.
• Millmore, Mark. Imagining Egypt.
• Remler, Pat. 'Egyptian Mythology From A to Z'
• Wilkinson, Richard H. The Complete Gods And Goddesses Of Ancient Egypt

Other websites

• http://philae.nu/akhet/NetjeruH.htm/#Horus
• http://greatscott.com/nicro/eye.htm
• http://touregypt.net/featurestories/horus.htm
• http://egyptianmyths.net/horus.htm
• http://ancient-Egypt.org/index.htm
• http://www.ancient-egypt.org/index..html
• http://www.touregypt.net/edfut.htm.
• http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/horus.htm.
• http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/a8215/1e9eb1/ Archived 2011-09-11 at the Wayback Machine
• http://www.mingl.org/.../egyptianmaths/egyptiangods.htm
• http://www.ancient-Egypt.org
• http://www.ancientegyptonline.co.uk/horus.htm
• http://www.touregypt.net/featurestopics/horus.htm
• http://www.gydir.demon.co.uk