The Eye of Ra
People often confuse the Eye of Ra with the Eye of Horus because both represent Horus’s eyes, but they have distinct meanings. The Eye of Ra represents the solar god Ra’s feminine counterpart and a force that subdues his enemies. The Eye of Horus (Udjat or Wedjat Eye) symbolizes healing and protection. Associated with the goddess Wadjet, it was a popular amulet motif from the Old Kingdom through the Roman Empire. During the First Intermediate and Middle Kingdoms, people painted pairs of these eyes on coffins for protection in the afterlife.
The Roles of Horus and Ra in Ancient Egyptian Religion
Horus: The Sky and Kingship God
Horus was one of ancient Egypt’s most significant deities, and he served many representations and functions. People knew him as the god of the sky and kingship. They honored and worshiped him from the late prehistoric period up until Roman Egypt and the Ptolemaic Kingdom. As a central figure in Egyptian mythology, Horus was often depicted as a falcon or a man with a falcon’s head. He embodied both the heavens and the divine right of kings.
Ra: The Sun and Creation God
Meanwhile, the ancient Egyptians considered Ra the king of the deities and the father of all creation, as well as the patron of the sun, heaven, kingship, power, and light. He not only governed the sun’s actions but could also be the physical sun itself and the day. Ra became one of the most important gods in ancient Egyptian religion by the Fifth Dynasty in the 25th and 24th centuries BC. As the creator god, Ra held a position of supreme power, and people often depicted him with a sun disk above his head.
The Significance of the Eye of Ra
The Eye of Ra is a Goddess
The sun gave life, light, and warmth to ancient Egyptians. Because of this, they worshipped it as a god, Ra. They regarded Ra as the king and father of all gods, and he served as Egypt’s main deity from around 2700 BCE. People commonly symbolized Ra with a golden disk. In human form, they depicted him as a man with a hawk’s head.
The Eye of Ra is an extension of Ra’s power. It often acted as a separate deity associated with goddesses like Hathor and Sekhmet. This goddess served as Ra’s mother, sibling, companion, and daughter. This symbolic representation helps us understand the profound connection Egyptians had between the sun’s life-giving properties and the multifaceted deity of Ra.
Protective and Aggressive Eye of Ra
The Eye of Ra and the Eye of Horus were powerful symbols of protection in ancient Egypt, used by both pharaohs and common citizens. The uraeus (cobra) on the pharaoh’s forehead and the lioness heads on the throne symbolized the Eye of Ra’s protective power for the king. This protection also extended to ordinary people through amulets and magical spells. New Kingdom spells describe placing clay models of uraei with basins for fire around homes to ward off evil spirits and nightmares.
The Eye of Ra symbolizes the sun’s destructive power but also its protective nature. A myth explains its origin: Ra sent his eye to find his children, and upon its jealous return, he transformed it into a uraeus and placed it on his forehead. The Eye of Ra’s final form is often a cat, symbolizing vigilance. The enduring symbolism of these powerful icons shows their profound influence on ancient Egyptian culture, where they were integral to rituals, art, and daily life.
Eye of Ra in the Mythology
The Egyptian sun god Ra sailed across the sky during the day and returned to the underworld at night. One myth says that when his people rebelled, he sent his daughter, the Eye of Ra, to punish them. She became a destructive force, and to stop her from killing everyone, Ra made her drunk on red beer. She then calmed down and returned to him. Another legend says Ra used his eye to gather information and execute justice. The eye also had a more benign role when Ra sent it to find his lost children. An emblem of a snake wrapped around a solar disk also portrayed the Eye of Ra, though this symbol was also used for other deities.
The Difference between the Eye of Ra and the Eye of Horus
The eye of Ra is frequently mistaken for the eye of Horus. The two, however, are not the same. The right eye is represented by Ra’s eye, while the left eye is represented by Horus’ eye. Ra is the solar god, and his might is comparable to that of the monotheistic faiths’ almighty gods. In this sense, his eyesight is limitless, and his eye is known as “the eye that sees everything.” Horus, on the other hand, has limited powers and relies heavily on physical integrity for defense.
The Eye of Horus is a left eye, and the Eye of Ra is a right eye. The Egyptians used the Eye of Horus for thousands of years as a powerful protective symbol associated with vision, health, and bodily integrity. People wore it as an amulet for protection.
Horus was often portrayed as a falcon or a man with a falcon’s head. As the first national god, he was closely tied to the pharaoh, who represented Osiris in death and Horus in life. Ra also appeared as a falcon, sometimes merging with Horus to form “Ra-Horakthy.” In human form, Ra was a man with a hawk’s head, crowned with a golden disk and a serpent. The Eye of Horus emblem also correlates with the sixth chakra’s Third Eye, relating to intuition and clairvoyance.
Earliest Sources of Egyptian Myths
The foundation of ancient Egyptian mythology is found in the Pyramid Texts, which were inscribed in pharaohs’ tombs during the late Old Kingdom (c. 2686–2181 BC). These early texts include the myth of the Eye of Horus. The Eye of Horus, also known as Wadjet, symbolizes “wholeness” and “restored unity,” themes that are central to the myth. The Pyramid Texts date from the late Old Kingdom (c. 2686–2181 BC). They contain rituals, incantations, and mythological stories, offering crucial insight into early Egyptian religious beliefs and the concept of the afterlife. Scholars consider them a fundamental source for understanding ancient Egyptian mythology.
The Egyptian sun deity Ra sailed across the sky on his boat during the day and took it back to the underworld at night. According to one legend, Ra’s old age caused his people to disregard his rules. He sent his daughter, the Eye of Ra, to punish them. The eye became enraged, and to stop her from destroying humanity, Ra made her drunk on red beer. She passed out, calmed down, and returned to him.
Another myth says Ra sent his original eye to find his lost children. While it was away, a new eye grew. The original eye, upon its return, felt jealous and betrayed. To appease it, Ra transformed it into a uraeus (a rearing cobra) and placed it on his forehead. This act symbolized Ra’s protective nature and divine authority. The uraeus often appeared on pharaohs’ headdresses, connecting them to Ra. The eye also took the form of a cat, emphasizing its role as a guardian. The myth highlights themes of loyalty, protection, and the connection between gods and humanity.
The Historical Timeline of Ra’s Worship in Egypt
The Impact of Horus and Ra on Ancient Egyptian Culture and Religion
Ancient Egyptian culture and religion were deeply influenced by the myths of Horus and Ra. Horus, often depicted as a falcon, symbolized kingship and protection. People used his eye, the Eye of Horus, as a powerful amulet to safeguard themselves from evil and disease. This symbol came to represent health, restoration, and protection. Ra, the sun god, created everything. His daily journey across the sky and through the underworld represented the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth. This mythology shaped their funerary practices and belief in the afterlife. The pharaohs were the earthly embodiment of Horus, which legitimized their rule. The myths of both gods were integral to Egyptian governance, art, and ceremonies, and they served as the foundation for their social order and cultural heritage.
The Historical Timeline of Horus’s Worship in Egypt
Horus, one of ancient Egypt’s most prominent deities, was revered across several significant eras, from the Late Prehistoric Period through the Roman era. In the Old and Middle Kingdoms, people recognized him as the god of the sky and the pharaoh’s protector. His worship continued into the New Kingdom and Late Period, where people celebrated his role as the avenger of his father, Osiris. His cult integrated with Greek traditions during the Ptolemaic Kingdom, and his worship endured even under Roman rule, reflecting his lasting importance in Egyptian spirituality.
The Eye of Horus is a powerful protective amulet with deep roots in mythology. It is a symbol of healing, divine authority, and the triumph of good over evil. The myth of Horus’s conflict with his uncle Set explains its origin: Set tore out Horus’s eye during a battle, and its reassembly symbolized restoration and protection. The myth of his father, Osiris, also shaped its symbolism, as Horus’s victory over Set solidified the eye as an emblem of healing and resurrection. The Eye of Horus is the left eye, while the Eye of Ra is the right eye. Today, people still wear the Eye of Horus for protection and well-being.
The Different Forms and Roles of Horus
Horus was a significant deity in ancient Egyptian mythology who appeared in many forms. As the sky god, he used the sun and moon as his eyes, and a myth explains the moon’s lesser brightness through his conflict with Set. His forms included Horus the Elder (Heru-ur), a mature figure symbolizing power, and Horus the Younger (Heru-pa-khered), a boy representing innocence and growth.
Horus also took on specific roles. He was the patron deity of the pharaohs, which established his political and religious influence. As Her-em-akhet, he appeared as a hieracosphinx, and in the Tomb of Nefertari, a depiction shows him as a priest. These various forms and representations show Horus’s dynamic presence and multifaceted nature, symbolizing divine power, wisdom, and national unity in ancient Egyptian culture.
