Thursday, September 13, 2012

Eye of Horus, ancient Egyptian amulet

The Eye of Horus is an ancient Egyptian symbol of protection, royal power and good health, notes Wikipedia.

The eye is personified in the goddess Wadjet and as The Eye of Ra). Twas known to the Greeks and Romans as "uraeus" from the Egyptian "iaret" meaning "risen one" from the image of a cobra rising up in protection.[7]

Wadjet was one of the earliest of Egyptian deities who later became associated with other goddesses such as Hathor.

Funerary amulets were often made in the shape of the Eye of Horus. Ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern sailors would frequently paint the symbol on the bow of their vessel to ensure safe sea travel.[11]


Horus was the ancient Egyptian sky god who was usually depicted as a falcon, most likely a lanner or peregrine falcon.[12] His right eye was associated with the sun Ra. The eye symbol represents the marking around the eye of the falcon, including the "teardrop" marking sometimes found below the eye.

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