Eye of Horus Ancient Egyptian Symbol of Protection, Power and Health

During the fight between Horus and Set, both the gods sustained eye of horus slots heavy injuries; Horus’s eye was ripped out and Set lost a testicle. The latter is used to indicate why the desert, which is represented by Set, is barren. The Egyptians believed that Osiris was the eldest son of the Goddess of the Sky, Stars, and Cosmos, Nut, and God of the Earth, Geb. He was the ruling king of Egypt and married one of his sisters, Isis, as was the Royal custom at that time.

The symbol incorporates an eye together with an eyebrow and is decorated with the markings of a falcon’s eye. It is also sometimes referred to as the Eye of Ra, but the Eye of Ra, however, was viewed as a destructive force connected with the powerful heat of the sun. Conversely, the Eye of Horus was depicted frequently on amulets to offer protection to the living and dead, and also represented good health and power. In ancient Egyptian culture, the need for protection and healing was paramount, reflecting the society’s beliefs about life, death, and the afterlife. The Eye of Horus served as a powerful emblem that encapsulated these beliefs.

Horus fought Set, his uncle, in a series of battles, and was gradually able to defeat him. The ancient Egyptians lived in a society that is considered to be one of the most fascinating in human history. The takeaway from these legends is that the Eye of Ra was the protector of the sun god Ra.

As the cult of Ra fell out of favor in broader Egypt, however, the cult of the Ennead spread, and with it – the many myths of the gods of this pantheon. Curiously, the Eye of Ra was not just seen as the literal eye of the god. Instead, it was viewed both as the sun itself and as a weapon that Ra could wield against his enemies. It – or, rather, she – had a feminine nature and was seen as the female counterpart of Ra.

Its association with healing, power, and the divine gaze also contributes to its enduring popularity. The Eye of Horus continues to be a popular and influential symbol in modern culture. It is often used in jewelry, tattoos, and other forms of personal adornment.

In the book trilogy The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan, main character Carter Kane hosts the spirit of Horus when he is released in the British Museum along with four other Egyptian deities. Horus speaks to Carter throughout the trilogy, offering him his advice and wisdom. Horus was occasionally shown in art as a naked boy with a finger in his mouth sitting on a lotus with his mother. In the form of a youth, Horus was referred to as nfr ḥr.w “Good Horus”, transliterated Neferhor, Nephoros or Nopheros (reconstructed as naːfiru ħaːruw). Another notable difference between the two symbols is the color of the iris.