Eye of Horus

A variety of symbols were present in the ancient Egyptian culture, often linked with religious beliefs. One of the most famous is the Eye of Horus, representative of the god whose name it carries. Also named "wadjet", the Eye of Horus was a symbol for the moon, and one of the most used images in jewelry and inscriptions.

Mythology of the Eye of Horus

After Horus grew to adulthood, he challenged his uncle, Seth, for the kingship of the gods. During the ensuing battle, Seth either gouged out or damaged Horus' left eye. Thoth used his magic to restore Horus' eye. The Egyptians saw the eye's destruction and restoration as an explanation for the waning and waxing of the moon.

Eye of Horus Symbol

The symbol of the wadjet was an eye with a curved tail on one side, a teardrop hanging from the other side, and an eyebrow. The ancient Egyptians gave each part of the wadjet a mathematical value. The fractions add up to 63/64. Scholars believe the remaining 1/64 might have represented the magic used by Thoth to restore the eye.

$Wadjet fractions$

Right side of the eye = 1/2
Pupil of eye = 1/4
Eyebrow = 1/8
Left side of the eye = 1/16
Curved tail = 1/32
Teardrop = 1/64

Eye of Horus Meaning

The Eye of Horus had several meanings for the ancient Egyptians. First, the eye symbolized rebirth and resurrection. Second, it represented wholeness. The Egyptians wore items with images of the eye to provide them with health.

Priests included objects with the Eye of Horus on them in people's funerary goods. They believed these signs protected the dead and provided strength to the body. The Eye of Horus was also painted on some sarcophagi. These eyes protected the body, and they provided a window the dead could use to view the world of the living.

Facts about the Eye of Horus

The Eye of Horus was a key symbol in the Egyptian culture, representing Horus and the moon.
An eye with a curved tail, a teardrop and an eyebrow made up the Eye of Horus.
People often mistakenly associate this sign with the Eye of Ra.