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Horus is the name of a sky god in ancient Egyptian mythology.

Early Horus[]

Horus is one of the oldest gods of Egypt. In an early version of Horus, he is born of the union between Geb (earth) and Nut (sky) shortly after the creation of the world. His older brother Osiris was given the responsibility of governing the earth, while Horus was given charge of the sky and, specifically the sun. Geraldine Pinch notes that "one of the earliest divine images known from Egypt is that of a falcon in a barque" representing Horus in the sun barge traveling across the heavens. Horus is also depicted as a creator god and benevolent protector.

Horus the Distant One[]

The name Horus is the Latin version of the Egyptian Hor which means "the Distant One", a reference to his role as a sky god. As the Distant One, Horus goes forth from Ra, and returns to bring transformation. The sun and the moon were considered Horus' eyes as he watched over the people of the world day and night but could also draw near to them in times of trouble or doubt. Imagined as a falcon, he could fly far from Ra and return with vital information and, in the same way, could quickly bring comfort to those in need.

Early Egyptian cult[]

Horus was realized early in Egypt's religious development. Egyptologist Richard H. Wilkinson comments on how "Horus was one of the earliest of Egyptian deities. His name is attested from the beginning of the Dynastic Period and it is probable that early falcon deities such as that shown restraining the `marsh dwellers' on the Narmer Palette represent this same god" (200). Rulers of the Predynastic Period in Egypt (c. 6000-3150 BCE) were known as "Followers of Horus" which attests to an even earlier point of veneration in Egypt's history.

Kingly associations[]

From the Early Dynastic Period (c. 3150-c.2613 BCE) onwards, Horus was linked with the king of Egypt (though later rulers associated themselves with Horus the Younger). Historian Margaret Bunson writes, "The Serekh, the earliest of the king's symbols, depicted a falcon (or hawk) on a perch. As a result, devotion to Horus spread throughout Egypt but in various locales the forms, traditions, and rituals honoring the god varied greatly" (116). This variation gave rise to a number of different epithets and roles for this deity and eventually led to his transformation from the elder Horus to the child of Osiris and Isis.

Sons of Horus[]

Pop Culture[]

  • Horus is a major figure within Rick Riordan's Kane Chronicles-book series.
  • Horus is one of the Egyptian gods in Neil Gaiman's American Gods-novel.
  • He appears under the name "Orus" in John Milton's epic Paradise Lost, where is one of the many fallen angels turned pagan gods, alongside Osiris and Isis.
  • He is a recurring figure in both Marvel and DC-comics.
  • Horus' form is taken by several aliens within the Stargate-universe.
  • In Shin Megami Tensei II, Horus appears as demon.
  • In the 2016 movie Gods of Egypt he is portrayed by the Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.
  • Within the universe of the SCP-Foundation, Horus appears in the article of SCP-5333, where he is identified as PoI-5333-2.

Resources[]

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