The symbol of Wadjet or the eye of Horus first appeared in Ancient Egypt, where people believed that such a talisman protected against the influence of evil forces and spirits. In ancient times, the amulet was used not only by pharaohs, but also by ordinary people. The hieroglyph is useful for women and men, while the Egyptian eye is applied to different parts of the body as a tattoo, and pendants and other items for protection are made with its image.
Origin story
According to ancient manuscripts, Horus was the son of Osiris (lord of the underworld). The inhabitants of the Nile Delta many centuries ago believed that the Son of the God of new life had unusual organs of vision.
One day, the son of Osiris partially lost his unique gift. The reasons for what happened are described in ancient sources, but they vary. According to one legend, the God of war and chaos, Seth, personally gouged out his left eye, and according to another, the patron of disorder, personifying evil, stepped on the organ of vision, symbolizing the Moon, and then squeezed it out.
There is also a version that Seth simply swallowed the “divine” eye. Does this mean that Horus will forever be without an eye? Some manuscripts report that the God of Wisdom (Thoth) helped return Horus’ organ of vision to its place. Some ancient Egyptian sources say that the healing occurred thanks to the Goddess of Love, who gave the victim gazelle milk to drink.
After some time, a version arose that the eye of Ra was placed in the ground by Anubis (patron of the dead) with a special ritual. Then a vine appeared in the place where the eye of Horus was buried.
Despite the magic of the artifact, the ancient Egyptians did not immediately believe in its magical power. The amulet with the image of Wadget began to be made after one mythological incident, when Horus healed his own father with the help of his eye. But the amulet of the eyes of Horus also appeared later; initially, a symbol of protection and healing adorned mummies. Soon the Egyptians began to tattoo the Eye of Ra.
The Myth of the Hawkeye
The Eye of Horus is a magical and mysterious symbol endowed with powerful energy. His image can be found in the Egyptian Book of the Dead, where he personifies the divine world order. This drawing served as a talisman against negative influences, deception and evil. Udjat, eye of Ra, hawk's eye - all these are other names for the ancient sign. The hieroglyph itself consists of two words and is translated as “guarding eye.”
The god Horus was the son of Osiris and Isis and was depicted as a man with the head of a falcon. He lost his left eye in a fight with Set, but was later healed by the god of wisdom Thoth. The right eye was the personification of the Sun, and the left eye was the personification of the Moon. It was the damaged eye that began to have amazing properties. According to legend, with its help Horus was able to resurrect his father Osiris. Later, the Egyptians began to believe that a person whose soul had passed on to another world gained the eye of God.
The left eye of the god Horus was worn as an amulet by the pharaohs. The product was made of gold or colored glass. Sometimes the image could be seen on Egyptian vessels and in houses. The right eye guarded people during the day, and the left eye at night.
Today the Eye of Horus has the same meaning as it did hundreds of thousands of years ago. A similar amulet is also carried with oneself, charged with its positive energy.
The triangle symbol can be seen on the one dollar bill at the top of the pyramid. This is a powerful sign responsible for financial stability and power. The sign was common among Freemasons and was partially borrowed from the Christian religion.
Meaning of the Eye of Horus Symbol
It should be noted that the left eye of Horus, which was restored, began to symbolize the Moon, and the right one - the largest star on the planet.
An eye with an eyebrow means power and greatness, and the spiral depicted below is interpreted as a powerful flow of energy, the power of which is limitless. Often the eye of Ra tattoo design is complemented by a papyrus scepter (an amulet for resurrecting the dead) or a Coptic cross (the key of life).
It is noteworthy that Horus, depicted with white eyes, was a symbol of the world of the living, and the black eye personified the world of the dead.
Wadjet was significant evidence and a serious argument in favor of the fact that the people living in the Nile Delta are obliged to obey the will of the pharaoh (supreme ruler). However, other peoples also realized the divine power of the artifact. But they depicted the eye of Horus in a triangle, which personified:
History and meaning of the “all-seeing eye” symbol
The all-seeing eye symbol is believed to have appeared about 6,000 years ago. The primary "basic" variations of the image were:
- an eye inside a triangle, all sides of which are equal. Rays emanate from the sides of the triangle;
- eye at the top of the triangle.
Based on information from various sources, the following values can be identified:
- an eye enclosed in a triangle protects its wearer from various ailments (both physical and mental), and also helps to cure existing diseases;
- The all-seeing eye promotes the development of insight, clairvoyance, and the ability to recognize lies.
BY THE WAY! The most universal historical meaning of the eye of Horus is knowing oneself, determining one's purpose.
The very first myth about the all-seeing eye is this. The god of chaos and war, Set, poked the god of the sky and sun Horus in the eye with his finger, causing Horus to go blind in that eye.
Some sources indicate that the eye of Horus was not pierced by Seth, but swallowed. Horus's wife, Hathor, helped her husband restore his lost eye with gazelle milk.
There is also a version that the damaged eye was buried by Horus’ brother Anubis (he was also revered by the Egyptians as a guide of souls to the kingdom of the dead), after which grapes grew at the burial site.
Horus put the renewed eye into the mouth of his father Osiris (who was killed and dismembered by his brother Set), causing him to grow together and resurrect.
BY THE WAY! In the hope of helping the dead to resurrect (as in the myth described above), the Egyptians applied wadjet to mummies.
Eye of Horus among the Egyptians
In Ancient Egypt, the wadjet was identified with Horus himself. The right eye of Horus was associated with the Sun, and the left eye with the Moon.
Thus, he had the opportunity to monitor everything that was happening in the human world around the clock. For this reason, this symbol has another name - “the all-seeing eye of Horus.”
Horus was also considered the patron saint of the pharaohs, and the current pharaohs were his embodiment on earth. The Eye of Horus (Horus) was used in magical rituals in order to learn the truth (since nothing can be hidden from the eye of Horus).
If the eye was complemented by the image of an eyebrow, then this meant an emphasis on power (of a particular pharaoh or Horus himself).
BY THE WAY! For a long time, the use of the Egyptian eye in a triangle for personal purposes was not available to “mere mortals”. Only pharaohs and clergy – priests – could have such an amulet.
The myth of the origin of Horus
The mythology of the Egyptians says the following about the origin of Horus. Osiris, the fourth of the gods ruling the earth, was killed by his brother Set in order to seize the throne.
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According to information from many sources, Seth also dismembered his brother's body and scattered its fragments. Ra (Osiris's great-grandfather and first ruling god) sent Anubis (Osiris' son) to collect the scattered body parts.
Anubis collected them, swaddled them and embalmed them (which is why the Egyptians traditionally depicted Osiris as a mummy). He found all the fragments except the penis.
The wife of Osiris, who was also his and Seth’s sister, molded the missing organ from clay and attached it to the mummy.
Then, turning into a bird (falcon or kite), she sat on her husband’s corpse and, using special spells, became pregnant with his child. Thus Horus was conceived.
For a long time there were legal proceedings regarding the appointment of the legal representative of Osiris, and, in the end, Horus became this representative.
After this, Horus fights with Set, trying to take revenge on him for killing his father, and in this battle he loses his eye (as already described above).
After the miraculous restoration of the lost organ, Horus gives his eye to his father, who swallows it and is reborn.
However, having been resurrected, Osiris does not return to the human world, but remains to rule in the kingdom of the dead, and appoints Horus as ruler on earth.
The all-seeing eye of God in the Christian tradition
The symbol in question has found its niche in Christianity. Here the triangle with an eye inscribed in it is identified with the holy trinity (father, son and holy spirit).
The eye itself means the all-seeing eye of God. Moreover, this symbolism echoes the ancient Egyptian one: like the Egyptian Horus, the Christian god also sees everything.
This allows him to determine where to send people after completing their earthly journey: to heaven or to hell.
The symbol of the all-seeing eye also contains rays diverging from the sides of the triangle; they symbolize divine radiance.
It is curious that the only image of God in Christianity (in the Christian tradition it is generally not customary to depict the deity itself) is the icon “The All-Seeing Eye of God.”
BY THE WAY! Since the Christian Church prohibits the visual representation of God, on the mentioned icon he is introduced in the form of symbols. The all-seeing eye is also reflected in various denominations of Christianity, including Catholicism and Orthodoxy.
Eye of the sun star in the countries of the east
In eastern countries, the interpretation of the eyes of Horus is the opposite: the right eye symbolizes the Moon, and the left eye symbolizes the Sun.
Also, this sign in the East can be depicted in the form of a pheasant feather.
This is how representatives of different eastern countries understand the all-seeing eye:
- followers of Buddhism identify the eye with light and wisdom (analogous to the third eye of Buddha);
- Hindus also give one of the deities (Shiva) a third eye, which means penetration into one’s own consciousness and gaining wisdom;
- Iranians have a myth about the good shepherd (Yima), who has a solar eye and special knowledge that gives him immortality;
- among the Japanese, Izanagi (the first man on earth), according to some sources, with the help of his right eye, gave birth to the moon god Tsukiyomi.
BY THE WAY! In the Muslim tradition there is the concept of “the eye of the heart”, which means spirituality, intelligence and enlightenment.
Buddhist character for eye
The Buddhist tradition also has a symbol similar to the Egyptian eye of Horus. It means wisdom, the desire for true knowledge.
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Therefore, among Buddhists, an amulet with such an image was very common. In addition, followers of this religion believe that the eye symbol allows one to see into the future.
The bearer of this sign detaches himself from everyday life and improves himself in order to see the present and the future.
Celtic eye symbol
Among the Celts, the meaning of the all-seeing eye was very different from the meaning of this symbol among other peoples.
For the Celts, an eye inscribed in a triangle meant maliciousness, envy and joy from human suffering.
Thus, this meaning stands out from the general mass of meanings (almost all the considered religions endow the eye in a triangle with a positive meaning) and has a strong negative connotation.
Ancient Greek meaning of eye
The ancient Greeks, as successors to the traditions of the Egyptians, also adopted the symbol of the all-seeing eye.
This sign was identified simultaneously with Zeus (the thunder god) and Apollo (the sun god).
In the ancient Greek tradition, such a sign was endowed with the ability to grant access to hidden knowledge and spiritual insight.
In addition, the symbol of the eye among the ancient Greeks was considered capable of driving away evil spirits.
Muslims' all-seeing eye
In Islam, the eye is designated by the term “nazar bonjuk” (literally, “amulet against the evil eye”).
Typically done in blue glass with a lighter center with a black pupil in the middle.
Also called the "eye of Fatima". According to Muslim mythology, Fatima is the daughter of the prophet Mohammed.
Fatima gave her husband a piece of blue glass so that he could return home from a long trip.
Among the Indians of North America
The symbol of the eye also played an important role for the Indians of North America.
This sign was the embodiment of a certain great spirit who tirelessly watches over all people.
Here there is a parallel between the ancient Egyptian beliefs and the Indian ones: here, too, all the awareness of the great spirit is observed, which has the ability to observe mere mortals around the clock.
The All-Seeing Eye as a Symbol for Americans
There is a version that the Americans adopted this ancient sign in order to receive help from higher powers in the development of their state.
Actually, US citizens adopted this symbol from the Freemasons (who, according to some sources, founded the United States).
Following their predecessors, Americans believe that an eye in a triangle symbolizes wisdom and opens the door to the unknown.
The most famous image of the all-seeing eye among Americans is on the $1 bill.
BY THE WAY! The idea of an all-seeing eye on a banknote was also adopted by the Ukrainians: their 500 hryvnia bills also feature such a sign.
Freemasonry and the all-seeing eye
The Masonic sign, the all-seeing eye with rays diverging from it to the sides, is called the “radiant delta.”
Such a symbol is traditionally located in the eastern part of the Masonic lodge above the place of the Worshipful Master.
For representatives of the Masonic order, the triangle means fire and enlightenment; moreover, as traditionally in Christianity (and most Masons are Christians), it is associated with the Holy Trinity.
An open eye means the discovery of truth, truth and conscience, as well as the victory of good over evil.
In addition to decorating the lodge itself, the all-seeing eye sign is used by Freemasons on documents and in elements of ritual vestments.
Scope of application
Not only the ancient Egyptians wore an amulet and got a tattoo with the eye of Ra, which was supposed to protect the owner from the cruelty and tyranny of the supreme rulers. The eye of the god Horus is still considered a powerful apotropaia, which will not allow any catastrophes, troubles and troubles to occur to its owner.
At the same time, it is believed that long-term wearing of an amulet or pendant with an artifact provides a person with good health and material well-being: you just need to believe in its miraculous power. Psychics and witches of today continue to insist that the eye of Horus can give everyone sharpness of thought, attentiveness and a positive attitude.
The meaning of the all-seeing eye tattoo
The most common meaning of a tattoo with an eye in a triangle is wisdom, strength and the desire to learn and discover the truth.
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There is also the meaning of enhancing energy and opening the entrance to other worlds (for this purpose, tattoos are applied by those who practice magic).
The meaning and recommended location on the body of such a tattoo varies depending on gender:
- Women are recommended to get an “Eye of Horus” tattoo on their shoulders or shoulder blades. It is believed that the location of the tattoo on the wrist of women indicates membership in the LGBT community. It is curious that for men such a nuance is irrelevant. The meaning of this tattoo for women is mystery, intuition and mystery;
- For men, such a body design means strength (physical and not only). For men there are no restrictions on the location of the tattoo.
It is believed that such a tattoo enhances certain character traits of the wearer and can also introduce new properties.
The meaning of the god Horus tattoo
A tattoo of the god Horus is much less common than an image of his eye. Horus is depicted as a man with the head of a falcon. The meaning of the god Horus tattoo is divine protection, the connection between heaven and earth. This tattoo is chosen by people who want to have an original design on their body.
God Horus Tattoo
God Horus tattoo - photo
God Horus Tattoo
God Horus Tattoo
Photo of god Horus tattoo
The Egyptian cross Ankh is often depicted in the hand of Horus. Symbol of immortality and wisdom.
