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What Is the Eye of Horus and What Does It Mean?

Do you have it?

By Karren SwampPublished 2 years ago 4 min read
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What Is the Eye of Horus and What Does It Mean?
Photo by Mohamed Nafea on Unsplash

The eye of Horus is one of the most famous symbols of ancient Egypt. Formerly known as Wadjet (the eye of the mind and absolute truth), this symbol is magical and is believed to provide protection, health, and eternal youth.

Due to its powers and the belief that it can fulfill any wish, the Eye of Horus was popularly used by the ancient Egyptians as amulets. Even today, the Eye of Horus continues to be used as a symbol of protection.

A story about betrayal and murder

The origin of the Eye of Horus can be found in the myth of Seth and Osiris. The ancient Egyptians believed that Osiris was king of Egypt and that his brother, Seth, wanted his throne. By cunning, Seth managed to kill his brother, thus becoming the new king. However, Osiris' wife, Isis, who was the goddess of magic, life, and healing, was able to temporarily bring her husband back to life. Soon, however, Seth, who is considered the devil of Egyptian mythology, killed Osiris and cuts him to pieces.

The cost of revenge and the gift of restoration

Osiris continued to be worshiped as the god of the dead, and Isis gave birth to Horus, the son of Osiris, not long after. When Horus reached adulthood, he sought revenge on his father's death, so he fought in a series of battles, and eventually defeated Seth. However, after a battle with Seth, Horus lost an eye.

According to one version of the legend, Seth snatched Horus' eye, tore it into six parts, and threw it away. In another version, it was Horus himself who rolled his eyes as a sacrifice to bring his father back from the dead.

Eventually, Horus 'lost eye was magically restored by either Hathor (often considered to be Horus' consort) or Thoth, the god of wisdom, balance, and harmony. Because Horus miraculously regained his sight, his eye is a symbol of triumph over evil and of sacrifice for truth and justice.

Is the eye of Horus a magical mathematical symbol?

Interestingly, the Eye of Horus is not only a magical symbol but also an example of the mathematical knowledge acquired by the ancient Egyptians. In the aforementioned myth, Seth tore the eye of Horus into six parts, so as a symbol, the eye of Horus contains six parts.

Each side received a fraction as a unit of measurement - the right side of the eye is 1/2, the pupil 1/4, the eyebrow 1/8, the left side of the eye 1/16, the curved tail 1/32, and the tear 1/64. These fractions amount to 63/64, and the missing part can be said to represent the magical powers of Thoth or illustrate that nothing in this world is perfect.

The significance of the 6 parts of the Eye of Horus

Each of the six parts of the Eye of Horus is associated with one of the six human senses:

  • The smell. The right side of the eye is associated with the sense of smell because it is closest to the nose and resembles this organ.
  • The view. The pupil is associated with the sense of sight, and the eyebrow represents thinking, due to the mimetic act of raising the eyebrow while thinking.
  • Hearing. The left side of the eye is the sense of hearing, as it goes to the ear and is shaped like a musical instrument.
  • Sense of touch. The tear is supposed to be the sense of touch because this part of the eye resembles a stem planted in the ground, an act that involves physical contact and touch.
  • The taste. The curved tail of the eye resembles a sprout of wheat or grain (sprouted from the stem planted above) so that this part of the Eye of Horus corresponds to the sense of taste.

Jewelry with the Eye of Horus

The ancient Egyptians believed that the Eye of Horus had healing properties, and as a result, they wore amulets with this symbol. The jewels were made using a variety of materials, including gold, lapis lazuli, and carnelian, and were used by the living, but were buried with the dead to give them protection beyond death.

Even today, jewelry with the Eye of Horus is in high demand. From pendants, earrings, and bracelets, such jewelry is worn for protection, luck, abundance, happiness, and success.

The eye of Horus feng shui

In feng shui, the Eye of Horus is used as a symbol of protection for the home and the workspace. Many people believe that the Eye of Horus helps them to overcome evil and get rid of the trouble, so they decorate their home with various decorative objects of this kind, which can be placed in various corners of a space, depending on the wishes you want to make. be fulfilled.

Examples:

  • In the corner of the quarry - in the north of the room (bedroom or living room), if you want to attract professional success
  • In the corner of the money - in the southeast of the office, if you want to have money, to attract wealth
  • In the glove compartment of the car, to protect yourself from accidents.

Horus Eye tattoos

This symbol is also very popular when it comes to tattoos. It can be drawn in several forms, each of which brings a different meaning. For example, in the Egyptian faith, Horus was represented by a hawk, so the Eye of Horus is often drawn next to this imposing bird.

Another extremely popular image for tattoos is the Eye of Horus inside a triangle.

This figure is full of meaning and is a symbol of occultism, power, and knowledge.

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