Have you ever wondered what the Eye of Horus meaning is? Everyone who is intrigued by ancient Egypt knows that it’s a symbol of protection. Records dating back to ancient Egypt show the Eye of Horus and it can be found in ancient Egyptian tombs and manuscripts.
The Eye of Horus, which is also known as the “Wadjet” (can be spelled wadjit), is also linked with the gods and their rule over the world. Wadjet was also the deity and protector of lower Egypt. It is for this reason, the ancient Egyptians made amulets out of the magical Horus Eye symbol and used the piece of jewellery for both the living and the dead.
Who was Horus?
Horus was the god of the sky in ancient Egyptian mythology. He was the son of Osiris (king of Egypt) and Isis. According to ancient Egyptian mythology, his right and left eyes represented the sun and moon, respectively. Horus’ right eye was called the “Eye of Ra”, and his left eye was known as the “Eye of Horus”.
History of the symbol
There are many versions of how Horus lost his left eye. According to one account, Seth, who was the brother of Osiris, ripped Horus’ eye out. He tore the eye into six parts and disposed of it. Another version of the myth tells us that Horus himself gouged his eye out as an attempt to raise his father from the dead.
Some say that Thoth, the god of wisdom magically restored Horus’ eye. Others claim that it was Hathor, the goddess of love. Legend has it that Horus then offered his restored left eye as a sacrifice to resurrect Osiris. This story, in a way, explains how the Horus Eye became the symbol of healing, sacrifice, and protection.
The 6 Elements of the Eye of Horus
The Eye of Horus meaning goes a little deeper, it’s not all just about protection. The Horus Eye is made up of six elements, based on Horus’ eye being torn up into 6 pieces by Seth. Five of the elements in the eye represent the five senses and the sixth corresponds to thought.
The eyebrow represents thought as it is close to the brain. The pupil obviously represents sight. The right side of the pupil, which is closest to the nose, is associated with the sense of smell. The left side of the pupil, represents hearing, as it is close to the ear. The curved part that looks like a tongue, represents taste. Lastly, the teardrop, which looks like a leg touching the ground, represents touch.
Ancient use of the Eye of Horus
As mentioned earlier, ancient Egyptians used amulets with the symbol for protection. This jewellery was also used in funerals. Amulets which were found in pyramids and sarcophagi suggest that pharaohs were buried with them, to guide them to the next world.
The ancient Egyptians also used to paint the Horus Eye on the bows of their boats, for the eye to guide and protect them on their dangerous voyages.
The Eye of Horus Today
Although we live in modern times, the belief in the Horus Eye and the practices continue. Besides protection, many consider the Eye as a symbol of power and knowledge. You will also find the symbol is a popular design for tattoos.
If you look closely at the RX symbol commonly seen on signs in pharmacies and on doctors’ prescriptions, you will notice that it is constructed based on the Horus Eye.
The Eye of Horus lives on.
We would love to hear your views in the comments below:
1- Do you have the Eye of Horus displayed anywhere?
2- Would you like to see the Horus Eye added on the Egyptian flag?
