Horus

Horus, also known as Heru, Har, Her, or Hor, was one of the most important gods in ancient Egyptian religion. He was especially famous as the god of kingship, healing, protection, the sun, and the sky. People worshipped Horus from very early times in Ancient Egyptian history until the periods of Ptolemaic Kingdom and Roman Egypt.

Horus was often shown as a falcon, like a lanner or peregrine falcon, or sometimes as a man with a falcon's head. One of his earliest roles was as the special protector of the city of Nekhen in Upper Egypt. Over time, the ruling pharaoh came to be seen as a living version of Horus.

In many stories, Horus is the son of the goddess Isis and the god Osiris. He is important in the myth about Osiris, where he fights against Set, Osiris’s brother who caused trouble. Sometimes, the goddess Hathor is also said to be his mother or even his wife.

Etymology

Horus, whose name means "Falcon" in ancient Egyptian, was an important god known for protecting kings and the sky. Over time, his name changed with the language, appearing in Coptic as hɔr or ħoːɾ and in ancient Greek as Hō̂ros. One of his forms, Horakhti, meant "Horus of the Two Horizons" and represented the sun rising and setting.

Horus and the pharaoh

The pharaoh was linked to the god Horus, who stood for kingship and protection. People believed Horus watched over the pharaoh, guiding and defending him. The pharaoh was also thought to be the son of Ra, the god who controlled nature just as the pharaoh led the land.

Ancient writings called the Pyramid Texts show the pharaoh as both Horus when alive and as Osiris after death, joining the gods. Each new pharaoh was seen as a fresh version of Horus, continuing the divine rule. This idea helped explain why the pharaoh had such great power, tying him to the forces of the universe itself.

Origin mythology

In one story, Horus was born after his mother Isis gathered the body parts of her husband Osiris, who had been killed by her brother Set. Isis used her magic powers to become pregnant and later gave birth to Horus in the safe Nile Delta marshlands.

Horus is also known as Heru-ur, an older form, and is the brother of Osiris, Isis, Nephthys, and Set. A younger form of Horus is called Heru-pa-khered, later known by the Greeks as Harpocrates.

Mythological roles

Horus was an important ancient Egyptian god who played many roles. He was seen as the god of the sky, and Egyptians believed he held the Sun and Moon in his eyes as he flew across the heavens like a falcon.

Horus also had many battles with the god Set to decide who would rule Egypt. These stories show how Horus stood up for his father, Osiris, and worked to protect the people. Through these conflicts, Horus became linked with Lower Egypt and was seen as a protector and a symbol of kingship.

Forms of Horus

Horus was an important god in ancient Egypt, and he had many different forms. He was often shown as a man with a falcon's head, wearing crowns to show his power. One form, called Ra-Horakhty, combined Horus with the sun god Ra. Another form, Her-sema-tawy, showed Horus tying together the regions of upper and lower Egypt.

Heru-pa-khered, known as Horus the Child, was shown as a young boy with a single lock of hair on his head. He represented the rising sun and was linked to the ideas of youth and new beginnings. Horus also had forms like Heru-Behdeti, shown as a winged sun, and Har-em-akhet, who was linked to the dawn and sometimes shown as a sphinx. These many forms helped people understand Horus in different ways, showing his many roles and powers.

Main article: Harpocrates

Celebrations of Horus

The Festival of Victory was an important event each year for the people who honored the god Horus. This festival happened at the Temple of Horus in a place called Edfu during a special time of year. During the festival, people acted out a sacred story showing how Horus defeated his enemy, Set. The king of Egypt would sometimes act as Horus in these performances.

Writers from long ago, like Macrobius and Epiphanius of Salamis, wrote about another festival for Horus that happened around the winter solstice, but we do not have proof of this festival from ancient Egyptian records.

Season of the Emergence Egyptian calendar Macrobius Chronicon winter solstice Epiphanius of Salamis Panarion

Suggested influence on Christianity

Some books, like William R. Cooper's from 1877 and Acharya S's from 2008, suggest that the story of Horus has similarities to the later story of Jesus. However, this idea is debated and not widely accepted.

In popular culture

Horus has appeared in many popular stories and games. In the television series Moon Knight, he is portrayed by Declan Hannigan. In the film Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, warriors of Horus come from the underworld to help a villain.

Horus is also a character in the book series The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan, where he speaks to the main character. In the movie Gods of Egypt, he helps a man named Bek. Horus appears in video games like Smite and Total War: Pharaoh, where players can call on him for help. He also shows up in a graphic novel called La Foire aux immortels by Enki Bilal.