Egyptian mythology is filled with many memorable characters, but few have had the lasting impact of the God known as Horus. Who is he and how does he continue influencing the way we think of Ancient Egypt?
His Place in Popular Culture
Horus is the first Egyptian God that many people can name, partly thanks to his appearance in movies such as Gods of Egypt. The most common depiction of Horus with the head of a falcon and as protector of the pharaoh makes him ideally suited to appear in images based on this period.
Horus has also become a staple in the online casino world, as we can see when looking at the eligible games when you play prize pinball at Betfair or collect free spins as part of their ongoing promotions. Eye of Horus Jackpot King is included on the list of slots free spins can be used on, with this slot showing scarab beetles and other classic images from Egyptian culture. Horus is the most powerful symbol in this game, as he is an expanding wild that fills an entire reel.
Who Was Horus?
Horus has been known by various names and many abilities have been attributed to him. However, he’s best known today as the God of kingship and protection. Born to the Goddess Isis and her husband Osiris, Horus was said to be the deity of the sun and moon and was shown either as a falcon or as a man with a falcon head. Some also say that Horus was the Egyptian version of the Greek God Apollo, which would mark another similarity between the Greek and Egyptian cultures.
The God Set was said to be his enemy and some texts speak of the mighty battle between the God Ra and Set that Horus played a major part in. The legend tells us that Horus traveled to Nubia and made the enemy troops turn against each other by tricking them into believing that they were standing next to their foes rather than their colleagues.
What Is the Eye of Horus?
This timeless symbol is often used in modern times as a form of protection, which is why you might see it on necklaces and other types of jewelry. Designed to look like a stylized human or falcon, its power comes from the story concerning Horus taking on Set in battle to try and claim back the kingdom.
Horus won this fierce battle but lost one of his eyes in the process, as it was broken into pieces. However, the deity Thoth returned his healed eye to him, leading people to view it as a symbol of healing and recovery. This eye was used as a hieroglyph and some Egyptologists also believe that it was used in math equations to represent fractions. It’s also played a part in the history of the evil eye-style amulet, as described here by the BBC.
With a story steeped in incredible legends and tales of battles, Horus has lived on as one of the most interesting Egyptian Gods that lets us understand this culture a little more clearly.