Eye of Horus, an ancient Egyptian symbol of knowledge, health and protection from evil…
Eye of Horus originated in Ancient Egypt and represents healing and knowledge and is a symbol of protection from evil. Eye of Horus originated from the Egyptian god Horus (Heru, Hor), who was the god of the Sky. Horus had the body of a man and the head of a falcon. Horus’s left eye represents moon while his right eye represents the sun. It is the left eye that is the image of the Eye of Horus.
Eye of Horus is used even today as a symbol of protection. Ancient Egyptians believed that Eye was a source of healing because it had been restored after being torn into six pieces by Seth. In addition, Eye of Horus is symbol of knowledge and health. Eye was also used to represent fractions and the six senses. Ancient Egyptians developed fractions, and Eye was divided into a fractional unit. The right side of the eye is 1/2, the pupil 1/4, the eyebrow 1/8, the left side of the eye 1/16, the curved tail 1/32, and teardrop 1/64. Adding the fractions equals 63/64, with the myth being that, because this is not a whole number, it represents that nothing in life is going to be perfect.
Eye of Horus has also been believed to depict the part of the brain that helps gain enlightenment. Eye of Horus, used in this manner, is called “third eye” or the pineal gland. The belief is that a person gains access to the pineal gland once they obtain a certain spiritual level. The ability to access the “third eye” means that a person has a heightened sense of awareness, perception and spirituality.
So much of ancient mythology traces back to family squabbles that tore the gods apart. One such squabble took place in ancient Egypt between powerful siblings and their descendants, the results of which affected various aspects of Egyptian life.
Osiris, god of the afterlife, and Isis, the supreme goddess, ruled over all aspects of life in ancient Egypt. But Osiris’s brother, Set was jealous of their realm and devised a plan to gain power for himself. He tricked his brother into climbing into a perfectly sized, decorative trunk and threw them together into the Nile River. Set proclaimed Osiris’ death and assumed his brother’s role. Isis doubted Osiris’ death and set to searching for his body, which she ultimately found. She used her power and potions to try to bring Osiris to life, hiding the body until she could succeed. But Set found Osiris and dismembered him, scattering his 42 parts around Egypt. On Isis’ journey to recover her husband, she buried each part on sight and blessed the area, creating provinces of the country. Osiris was incomplete and lacking in power, which left him only able to rule the underworld. He also fathered Isis’ son, Horus. Just as she tried to do with Osiris’ body, Isis hid Horus away to protect him from his uncle. When Horus was older, he attacked Set out of revenge and desire to control the world. They fought for 80 years, with Horus losing an eye in battle. Ultimately, Horus succeeded in banishing Set and ruled with Isis by his side.
The image of Horus’ eye took on the symbolism of incredibly powerful protection, so much so that it was only permitted to adorn the person or possessions of the pharaohs, or kings. Some notable features of Eye of Horus include:
• As Horus was the god of the sky, the eye is reminiscent of a peregrine falcon, one of the world’s fastest animals and an incredible hunter.
• A teardrop marking, as was often seen on the falcons.
• An association with Ra, the sun god.
• Occasionally a blue iris.
• The parts of the symbol correlate with the six senses – sight, smell, hearing, taste, touch, and thought.
Evidence of Eye of Horus has been found on or alongside mummies and within hieroglyphics or ancient Egyptian pictorial language. It was believed to not only provide magic to living users but also as an item that the dead could show to Osiris as they entered the underworld.
#archaeohistories
