The God Horus
God Horus
Horus is among the most significant gods in ancient Egyptian mythology. He was thought to be the giver of life, protection, war, and royalty. Horus was closely associated with the pharaonic kingdom and was seen as the living appearance of the pharaoh, thus making him a symbol of divine authority and just rule.
The Ancestors of Horus and His Role in Egyptian Mythology
He appeared in several guises in different periods of ancient Egypt and was represented by various forms and nicknames, the most popular being Horus, the son of Isis, and Horus the Great.
As the story goes, Horus was the child of the goddess Isis and the god Osiris, conceived after his father's murder by the devil Set. For protection, Isis hid her little son in the marshes of the Delta until he grew strong enough to fight Set and claim his father's throne.
The battle between Horus and Set
The most important story in Egyptian mythology is the one section narrating the wars that followed between Horus and Set while they both fought for control of the throne.
Some accounts claim that during the battles, Horus lost one of his eyes, although it regained its sight due to the benevolence of Thoth, and eventually, in Egyptian mythology, Horus' Eye became a symbol of protection, power, and healing, being used as a talisman by Egyptians on an everyday basis.
The ancient Egyptian conception was that Horus would present the deceased to Osiris, and if he passed the Libra test, he would be beautifully clothed and enter paradise.
Horus Shapes and Symbols
Horus is often depicted as a man with a falcon's head or sometimes as a full-fledged falcon. Some of his important symbols include:
The Eye of Horus symbolizes protection, power, and healing.
The falcon: The falcon was thought to represent Horus's all-encompassing vision of heaven and earth.
The double crown symbolizes his control over Upper and Lower Egypt.
Horus and the Pharaonic Kingdom
Each pharaoh was considered the living embodiment of Horus during his lifetime, and upon his death, he was seen as Osiris. Hence the royal title “Living Horus," symbolizing the continuity of divine rule. Pharaohs used royal names associated with Horus, such as Horus Mahab and Horus Sakhmoy.
Horus worship and popularization
The worship of Horus was common throughout Egypt, and he was worshipped in major temples such as the Edfu temple, one of the most important sites dedicated to him.
He also had different local forms, like Horus Bahdati in Edfu and Horus Sobd in other areas.
Horus's influence on later cultures
Horus' importance was not limited to Ancient Egypt, and his influence spread to other cultures, with some of his attributes being incorporated into later religions.
There are many symbols associated with him, including the Eye of Horus, that are still used today in jewellery and amulets as symbols of protection and power.
Horus is one of the most influential gods in ancient Egyptian civilization, embodying the values of justice, protection, and royal power.
His epic story and struggle against evil made him a timeless symbol of strength and triumph, and his influence is still felt in culture and history today.
Latest Articles
Admin
The Graeco-Roman Museum
The Greco-Roman Museum of Alexandria is Egypt's most important archaeological museum, displaying a wide and impressive array of antiquities of the Roman and Greek periods, a testament to Alexandria as a hub of culture and civilization in the ancient world.
Admin
Temple of Khnum
The Temple of Khnum in Esna is a great religious monument that stands as a living record of the excellence of Egyptian artists and priests during the Ptolemaic and Roman eras and should attract every lover of Egyptian history and civilization.
Admin
Beni Hassan Tombs
The tombs of Beni Hassan are among the most prominent evidence of the greatness of ancient Egyptian civilization, as they reflect the Egyptians' mastery of architecture and sculpture, as well as the minute details documenting aspects of their daily life and religious beliefs. These tombs, which date back to the Middle Kingdom, are not just burial sites but archaeological treasures that reveal the nature of Egyptian society at the time as well as its political and economic relations.
Admin
Wadi El Rayan
Wadi El-Rayan is one of the most important natural tourist attractions in Egypt, especially in Fayoum, where there are many wonderful places such as waterfalls and springs for medical tourism, as well as mountains for safari and camping.
Admin
Muslim Conquest in Egypt
Egypt became part of the Islamic world and played a pivotal role in Islamic and Arab history. The conquest had a different aspect than many conquests, as it was characterized by organization and negotiation, as well as military power.
Admin
God Thoth
Thoth served as the spiritual representation in Egyptian mythology whose divine nature embodied reason as well as justice and eternal wisdom. The legacy from Thoth spread throughout thinking, religion and science, thus preserving his name in Egyptian and Greek philosophical works.
