The Eye of Horus: The Symbols of Power, Protection, and the Divine Gaze

Additionally, it embodies healing, as seen in its association with the restoration of Horus’s eye, symbolizing the return to wholeness and health. The Eye of Horus has its roots in ancient Egyptian mythology, particularly in the tales surrounding the god Horus. Horus, the sky god, was often depicted as a falcon or a man with a falcon head. He was the son of Osiris and Isis and played a crucial role in the mythology surrounding life, death, and resurrection. The Eye of Horus was a potent symbol of power and authority in ancient Egypt.

It emerged together with the cult of Ra after the unification of the Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt kingdoms. The Eye is also given to a variety of goddesses such as Sekhmet, Wadjet, and Bast. Sekhmet once ranged down such ferocity against a disrespectful humanity that Ra eventually had to step in to stop her from exterminating the entire race. Whenever a discussion focuses on Egypt, there is always an interconnection between the country and its culture to the ancient Egyptian religion .

Osiris and Isis are represented as the male and female forces of the universe respectively in the eyes of the ancients. Horus is the God of Sky and representations from ancient Egypt show him as a man with the head of a falcon. In some hieroglyphs and artistic renditions, he is depicted as the falcon itself. The Eye of Horus is one of the most popular ancient Egyptian symbols in the world which is often confused with the Eye of Ra. But what exactly is the difference between the Eye of Ra and the Eye of Horus?

Either way, the restored eye was then named Wadjet after the old Egyptian goddess by the same name. In those fights, Horus severed Seth’s testicles and Seth returned in kind by shattering one of Horus’ eyes into six pieces. Horus did prevail in the end and his eye was restored by the goddess Thoth, in some legends, or the goddess Hathor, in others. The symbol of the Eye of Horus originates from a battle between Horus and his uncle Seth. Horus was the son of the gods Osiris and Isis and Seth was Osiris’ brother.

In certain species it is linked to a parietal eye also called a third eye. Philosophers, such as Rene Descartes, believed the pineal gland was the seat of the soul. The eye of Horus is used by some occultists, including Thelemites, who consider 1904 the start of the Age of Horus. The eye is often depicted within a triangle, which might be interpreted as a symbol of elemental fire or might harken back to the Eye of Providence and other similar symbols. You will also learn more about her history and the myths and legends behind her name. Horus and his origin story are some of the most interesting stories in Egyptian mythology to date.

According to one story, Horus sacrificed one of his own eyes for Osiris. The ancient Egyptians often called the sun and the moon the “eyes” of gods. For instance, the right eye of Horus was referred to as the sun, while his left eye was referred to as the moon. Although both the Eye of Ra and the Eye of Horus are considered symbols of protection, the Eye of Ra supposedly only protected pharaohs and royalty.

Horus became king of Egypt and married Hathor, the goddess of love and beauty. Horus appears in a 1980 science fiction graphic novel La Foire aux immortels written and illustrated by French cartoonist and storyteller Enki eye of horus casino Bilal. As Horus was the ultimate victor he became known as ḥr.w or «Horus the Great», but more usually translated as «Horus the Elder».