Horus

Horus – The Enchanted One

Horus, son of Isis and Osiris, embodies multiple archetypes:

• He is the prophesied savior.

• He is the Divine Child, whose safety must be ensured at all cost.

• He is the crowned, conquering child hero.

• He is the heroic warrior who battles for his birthright.

• He is the wise, just ruler.

By the Fifth Dynasty, if not before, Egyptians were producing white and red wines known as the Left and Right Eyes of Horus, respectively.

Horus is a solar spirit from the Nile Delta worshipped in the form of a falcon. The sun and moon are his eyes. His name derives from a root word indicating “shiny-faced”: he is a warrior spirit of light. Horus serves as an intermediary between people and spirits. He leads souls into the presence of his father, Osiris, Lord of Death. Although Horus has wives, he rules alongside his mother, Isis. Horus may be invoked to intercede with his mother or vice versa.

The image of Horus in his mother’s arms or nursing from her breast may be the prototype for the beloved image of Madonna and Child. Horus is of en depicted dominating or killing serpents, crocodiles, and hippopotami, animals sacred to his rival and nemesis, Set. An image of Horus on horseback spearing Set may be the prototype for the image of Saint George and the dragon.

That’s the myth. Scholars have other theories. Horus may be a primordial deity who, alongside Hathor, Thoth, and Ammon, ranks among the eldest of Egyptian deities, older than his “parents,” Osiris and Isis. Vestiges of ancient myths suggest that he was self-created. The name “Horus” has also become a general term for Egypt’s many falcon deities. They have become so intermingled that it’s difficult to disentangle their myths leading to further confusion regarding the “true” Horus.

ALSO KNOWN AS:

Haroeris; Haru-Er

ORIGIN:

Egypt

ICONOGRAPHY:

Horus is depicted in many forms:

• A falcon

• A child wearing the sidelock of youth

• A baby in Isis’ arms

• A virile, falcon-headed man

Tree:

Acacia

BIRDS:

Falcon, hawk

OFFERINGS:

Famed Egyptologist Omm Sety is described as leaving raw meat for hawks and falcons as a method of making offerings to Horus.
The image of the Eye of Horus is worn, carried, or tattooed as a protective amulet against danger.'

SEE ALSO:

• Ammon
• Harpokrates
• Hatbor
• Isis
• Osiris
• Set
• Thoth
• Egyptian Mythology

SOURCE:

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses– Written by: Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.