Domains & Iconography
Domains: kingship, sky, protection
Iconography: falcon, double crown, udjat eye
Forms & Lineages
Horus is a complex cluster of falcon deities and royal titles spanning Egypt’s history. As child of Isis and Osiris (Harpocrates), Horus is the vulnerable heir who matures to contend with Seth; as Haroeris ('Horus the Elder') and Horus Behdety (of Edfu), he is a potent sky and protective force. The 'Living Horus' is the king on earth, whose serekh bears a Horus falcon; upon death the king becomes Osiris, while the successor assumes Horus’ living mantle. Syncretisms such as Ra‑Horakhty stress the cosmic arc of the sun across the two horizons.
Myth & Kingship
The contest of Horus and Seth—narrated in temple texts and later stories—frames disputes of rightful rule as cosmic trial and combat. Episodes range from court scenes before the Ennead to physical contests (transformations, boat races, and confrontations), culminating in Horus’ vindication. The king’s titulary, festivals, and iconography—the double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt, the smiting pose, and the protective 'Eye of Horus' (Udjat)—anchor this myth in political and ritual practice. The Udjat, a healed eye, became a powerful amulet for health and wholeness.
Iconography
Horus commonly appears as a falcon or a falcon‑headed man wearing the double crown, signaling sovereignty over the Two Lands. He can perch atop the serekh, guard temple gateways, or accompany the king as a divine double. At Edfu, Ptolemaic inscriptions preserve elaborate narratives of Horus Behdety’s battles against Seth’s confederates, accompanied by ritual choreography. Child‑Horus (Harpocrates) with finger to mouth and side‑lock of youth expresses renewal, protection, and the vulnerable power guarded by Isis.
Theology & Local Cults
As a sky god, Horus encompasses solar and stellar aspects; as a royal god, he fuses with the living king’s identity and duty. Local temples—Edfu, Hierakonpolis, and others—shape distinct emphases, while national ideology uses Horus to articulate unity and continuity. The integration of Horus with Ra in Ra‑Horakhty reflects a theology where royal order mirrors cosmic order; festival circuits and bark stations materialize this unity in space and time.
Legacy
From earliest dynastic iconography to Roman‑period reliefs, Horus persists as emblem of rule, protection, and triumphant restoration. The Eye of Horus remains among the most recognizable Egyptian symbols, expressing completeness after loss. Museum holdings of falcon statues, temple reliefs, and amulets document the breadth of devotion. Modern scholarship reads Horus not as a single fixed figure but as a network of roles—child, warrior, sky, and king—cohering around protection of order and rightful succession.