Horus the God of Pharaohs in Egypt

Dr Archana Verma

Horus was associated with kingship, protection, sky and the Sun. His worship is known from as early date as the late Prehistoric period in c 3100 BCE. He was often depicted as a falcon or a human with a falcon head and spread wings. His head represented n eagle wearing a crown. In earlier traditions, Hathor is regarded as the mother of Horus. But as Isis became more prominent, she assumed the qualities of Hathor an began to be seen as the mother of Horus.

Horus became associated with the kinship and the Pharaoh was seen as his representation on earth. His mythology involved slaying Set, his father Osiris’ brother an murderer, while Isis rejuvenated Osiris. The Pharaoh while living was identified as Horus, while after death he was identified with Osiris and living with the other deities. As symbolic of the sky, Horus was said to have the Sun as his one eye and the Moon as his second eye.

The eye, called Wedjat, as a protective symbol was also associated with Horus.

The Egyptians celebrated a festival in honour of Horus in the 6th month of the Egyptian calendar. In this, a sacred play was enacted in which the Pharaoh played the role of Horus, who slayed a Hippopotamus who was symbolic of Set. It is the view of the scholars that the Pharaoh may not have enacted in the play every year. Instead, a priest may have enacted in the place of Pharaoh when he was not available. Similarly, instead of killing a live hippopotamus every year, they may have used a replica.