Eye of Horus – History and Symbolic Meanings
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The Eye of Horus is one of the most popular and yet most misunderstood ancient Egyptian symbols. It was found everywhere – in hieroglyphics, artwork and jewelry, to name a few. The Eye of Horus is often mistaken for the Eye of Ra, which is a different symbol belonging to a different god. Additionally, some conspiracy theorists believe that the Eye of Horus is related to the Eye of Providence.
However, the Eye of Horus is its own symbol and has no connections to these types of eye symbolology.
A powerful image for ancient Egyptians, the Eye of Horus was deeply rooted in their mythology, symbolism, and even in their measurement system and mathematics.
Let’s take a closer look at the origins, history and symbolic meaning of the Eye of Horus symbol.
What’s the Origin of the Eye of Horus Symbol?
Depictions of the Egyptian God Horus
The symbol of the Eye of Horus originates from the myth of the god Horus and his battle with Seth. Horus is one of the most popular and important Egyptian gods, still commonly seen on many Egyptian emblems. He had the body of a human and the head of a falcon and was known as the god of kingship and the sky.
The symbol of the Eye of Horus originates from a battle between Horus and his uncle Seth. Horus was the son of the gods Osiris and Isis and Seth was Osiris’ brother. However, as Seth had betrayed and killed Osiris, Horus eventually sought revenge from his uncle and the two had a series of battles.
In those fights, Horus severed Seth’s testicles and Seth returned in kind by shattering one of Horus’ eyes into six pieces. Horus did prevail in the end and his eye was restored by the goddess Thoth, in some legends, or the goddess Hathor, in others.
In a variation to the legend, Horus ripped out his own eye as a way to bring his father Osiris back from the dead. His eye was then restored to him magically.
Either way, the restored eye was then named Wadjet after the old Egyptian goddess by the same name. Wadjet’s name was meant to symbolize health and wholesomeness. As a result, the Eye of Horus became known for those concepts as well.
What’s the Symbolic Meaning of the Eye of Horus?
Overall, the Eye of Horus’ was one of the most beloved and positive symbols in ancient Egypt. It was used to represent healing, health, completion, protection and safety.
1. Protection
Much like the Nazar Boncugu, another famous eye symbol that signifies protection, the Eye of Horus also was believed to be a protective symbol. The eye was believed to repel evil and ward off misfortune.
2. Healing
Because of its mythological origins, the Eye of Horus was also thought to have healing properties. The symbol was often used on amulets, as well as on healing instruments and tools.
3. Imperfection
The Eye’s symbol was depicted with six distinct parts – a pupil, left and right sides of the eye, an eyebrow, a curved tail, and a stalk beneath it. The six parts symbolized the six pieces the eye of Horus was shattered into.
More so, each part was also assigned a mathematical fraction as a unit of measurement –
- The pupil was ¼
- The left side was ½
- The right side was 1/16
- The eyebrow was 1/8
- The curved tail was 1/32
- The stalk was 1/64
Curiously enough, their sum equals 63/64, which was a number believed to symbolize life’s imperfections.
4. The Senses
The six parts also represented different senses – the eyebrow was thought, the left side was hearing, the right side was the sense of smell, the pupil was sight, the stalk was touch, and the curved tail was the sense of taste. Together, the Eye of Horus represented the human sensory experience.
5. Occult – Fire
The Eye of Horus was also at the center of certain occult philosophies in the 20th century, independent of it being connected with the Eye of Providence. The Thelemites occult social and spiritual philosophy, for example, developed in the early 1900s by Aleister Crowley, depicted the Eye of Horus in a triangle, representing the element of fire. Needless to say, that further fueled the connection with the Eye of Providence that many kept making.
How to Use the Eye of Horus
Considering that the Eye of Horus is a positive, protective symbol, many people continue to use it in various ways.
- Some people hang the Eye of Horus symbol in their vehicles or homes to protect them and keep them safe from harm.
- Eye of Horus jewelry is another way to keep the symbol close. Tattoos have also become a very popular way to sport the symbol.
- Hanging a small Eye of Horus charm on your bag or key tag, for example, is often considered good luck by people who are superstitious.
- Seafarers and fishermen from the Mediterranean region depict the Eye of Horus on their ships and boats as a symbol of protection and good fortune.
The Eye of Horus in Jewelry and Fashion
The Eye of Horus is quite popular in jewelry, tattoos and on clothing. Whether or not you subscribe to the superstition of the symbol, the beauty of the symbol itself makes it a good design for art and fashion.
The curving lines and swirls can be stylized in many ways to create distinct jewelry. The symbol is quite popular as pendants, earrings and even on rings and charms. Also, it’s a unisex design and suits any style.
The Eye of Horus was and still is one of the most used ancient Egyptian symbols in any art form. Even when we discount its false perceived connection with the Eye of Providence, the Eye of Horus is still frequently portrayed by painters, artists, tattoo artists, clothing and jewelry designs.
To this day, regardless of the wearer’s religious or spiritual believes, the Eye of Horus is widely accepted as a positive and protective symbol to wear. Below is a list of the editor’s top picks featuring the eye of Horus symbol.
Amazon.com
FAQs About the Eye of Horus
The Eye of Horus is the left eye, while the right eye symbol is known as the Eye of Ra. These are often depicted together.
The Eye of Horus is a positive symbol, representing many benevolent concepts like health, protection and good fortune. There’s a tendency to misjudge eye symbols as being bad luck, but this is generally incorrect.
These are two different symbols but look alike as both represent eyes. The Nazar Boncugu originated in (now) Turkey and is an ancient symbol dating back to around 8th century BC. It, too, is a protective symbol representing good fortune and warding off evil.
For the superstitious, the Eye of Horus is a protective symbol and one that brings in good luck. It’s still worn and carried by those who want to repel evil and invite good fortune.
Wrapping Up
Some people find the symbolism of the eye somewhat enigmatic and mysterious, perhaps even malevolent. However, almost every eye symbol throughout history has had positive connotations, representing good luck, protection, health and wholesomeness. The Eye of Horus is no different. It remains a beneficial symbol that is still popular and representative of Egyptian culture and heritage.
