Eye Of Horus – Powerful, Ancient Egyptian Symbol With Deep Meaning

David Tee - AncientPages.com - What does the eye mean? It is the big question, and the history of the Eye of Horus is fascinating.

An Eye of Horus or Wedjat pendant. Credit: Jon Bodsworth, Wikipedia

Archaeological research has shown that the Eye of Horus was seen by some ancient people, not just the Egyptians, as a special symbol that fought off evil spirits, similar to the purpose of the Hamsa symbol. The archaeologists came to this conclusion after finding three eyes of Horus on the Tel Dor necklace.

Another use for the Eye of Horus can be found in ancient Egyptian literature, where its meaning was transformed from a symbol for good things to an expression of positive imagery. This transformation did not remove it from its association with the sun but added another facet to its godly status.

While the Eye still holds many ancient meanings, it is safe to say that different people place different meanings on it. Yet, where did the eye originate?

The Origin Of The Eye Of Horus

This symbol for goodness or a god can be found in the 15th to 13th centuries BC in the land of the Palestinians. But this is different from the region of origin. The Palestinian use of the Eye was imported from the Egyptians, which was quickly done since Egypt ruled much of Palestine at different times in ancient history.

The Egyptian god Horus goes way back to early ancient Egyptian times. Horus was known as the sun god long before Ra took his place. Yet, the Eye of Horus has an even earlier origin; before it became known as the Eye of Horus, it was referred to as the Wadjet.

Amulet with the Eye of Horus. Earthenware, Achaemenid artwork, late 6th–4th centuries BC. From the Tell of the Apadana in Susa. Credit: Marie-Lan Nguyen, Wikipedia

There are variations to the term Wadjet, and it was often associated with the goddess named Wadjet. Before it became attached to Horus, other gods enjoyed being associated with the all-seeing eye. These gods were Hathor, Bast, Sekhmet, Tefnut, Nekhbet, and Mut.

The Loss Of An Eye

The early sun god Horus was not just associated with the sun. His two eyes were said to be both the sun and the moon. When Ra took over the title of the sun god, he was also known as "Ra-Horakhty or Ra, who is Horus of the two horizons."

In a battle with Set, Horus lost the use of one eye. It is often debated which of the two myths does not agree with each other on which eye was damaged. Thoth restored the eye, which was when Horus was also named Wadjet.

The waxing and waning of the moon were often thought of as a replay of the loss and subsequent healing of Horus' eye.

Ancient Use Of The Eye Of Horus

Because many ancient Egyptians believed that the Eye was all-seeing, they decided that the best use was to bring the eye to jewelry, amulets, knives, and other items in their daily life. By doing so, the ancient Egyptians and Palestinians thought they were being protected from evil.

The all-seeing eye could see what was happening and then summon help for the victim.

The Eye Of Horus And The Elements

Besides the all-seeing nature and protective properties assigned to the Eye by the ancient Egyptians, they also associated different elements with it. These elements had to do with the senses and thought:

§ The eyebrow above the eye represents the thought

§ The pupil, of course, meant sight

§ The triangle shape inside the eye was to represent hearing

§ The triangle shape represents the smell

§ Finally, the spiral curve was thought to be the tongue, and it meant taste

Left: The Eye of Providence can be seen on the reverse of the Great Seal of the United States, seen here on the US $1 bill. Credit: Wikipedia - Right: All-seeing eye on the top of the Declaration of Human Rights (1789), French Revolution. Credit: Wikipedia

Along with this and the protective properties given to the eye, the ancient added one more property. The ancients used the eye to help them form their ingredients for medicines and pigments.

The eye is divided into six parts to represent the destruction caused by the god Set. Not only were those parts given the elements above but they were also given specific fractions. The smell was ½; Sight was ¼; thought was 1/8; Hearing was 1/16; Taste was 1/32; and Touch was 1/64.

The Egyptians could do simple and complicated math problems and calculations by using the fractions assigned to Horus' eye parts.

The Eye Is Everywhere

It is the key to understanding the Eye of Horus. It has to be everywhere to see all things. Even the dead in ancient Egypt were inaccessible from the eye's gaze. Thoth is recorded in the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead as the one who repaired blind or damaged eyes.

It was done because the Egyptians believed every body part had to function normally to help the deceased in the afterlife. Yet this was not the only mention of the eye concerning the dead.

The eye of Horus was found throughout different tombs, sarcophagi, coffins, boats, and much more. Horus had an omnipresence in Egyptian life. Sailors wanted his protection when they departed on dangerous sailing adventures.

The Modern Use Of The Eye

The most famous modern use of the Eye of Horus is its association with the Illuminati.

As mentioned earlier in Ancient Pages, there is a close connection between the Eye of Providence, the All-Seeing Eye, and the Eye of Horus. You may have seen the Eye of Providence on the back of the American dollar bill. The reason it is included has yet to be well known. But for the engravers of the dollar bill, it serves its purpose.

The Eye of Providence is a powerful symbol used for hundreds of years, if not longer. Some scholars trace its history to ancient Egypt and the Eye of Horus. The All Seeing Eye has been an important Christian symbol that can often be found on stained glass windows of churches.

Though science has since dispelled many of the myths associated with the Eye, it has not lost its attractiveness, and many people look to use it for protection or other purposes.

With a clouded origin and application, everyone in the modern age can apply their meaning and use to the Eye of Horus. It can be done even though modern Egyptians do not adhere to ancient myths or use the Eye daily.

With the dangers that lie in the ancient and modern world, it is not surprising that some people do turn to the Eye of Horus. They do this to find peace of mind and a haven from harm.

Written by – David Tee - AncientPages.com Staff Writer

Updated on Nov 24, 2023

Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com

Expand for references