horus

Horus is a major deity in ancient Egyptian religion, typically depicted as a falcon or as a falcon-headed man. He is associated with the sky, kingship, and protection, and the pharaoh was regarded as the living embodiment of Horus in life and a guardian of order in the realm of the gods.

Iconography and symbols commonly linked to Horus include the falcon, the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt, and the Eye of Horus (wedjat), a protective symbol associated with healing and wholeness. In some forms, Horus wears the royal regalia of the sun or is shown in celestial guise as Horus of the Horizon, linking him to solar illumination and the daily cycle.

In myth, Horus is the son of Osiris and Isis. After Osiris is killed by his brother Set, Horus is said to have avenged his father and eventually defeated Set, restoring order. This struggle is a foundational myth for dynastic kingship, as the living pharaohs were identified with Horus and served as the god’s earthly representative. The Eye of Horus also embodies restoration and protection in the afterlife.

Worship of Horus centered at several cult centers, notably Hierakonpolis (Nekhen) in predynastic and early dynastic times, and later at Edfu, where the Temple of Horus of Edfu became a prominent cult site. Horus appears in royal titulary—the Horus name is one of the principal names of the pharaohs.

Variants include Horus the Elder (Haroeris), a sky and sun-associated form; Horus the Child (Harpokrates); and Horus of the Two Horizons, a solar aspect linked with the sky and sunrise.