The Eye of Horus, or wedjat, is one of the best-known symbols of ancient Egypt. It shows a human eye with the markings of a falcon’s cheek beneath it, and it stood for protection, healing and wholeness. Egyptians wore it as an amulet in life and placed it with the dead.
The myth
In the struggle between Horus and his uncle Seth for the throne of Osiris, Seth tore out Horus’s eye and broke it into pieces. Thoth, the god of wisdom, or in some versions the goddess Hathor, put it back together and healed it. The restored eye became a symbol of making whole what was broken.
How it was used
Eye of Horus amulets were made in gold, faience and stone, and were among the most common amulets in Egypt. They were placed in mummy wrappings and painted on the sides of coffins so the dead could “see” out. Sailors painted eyes on the bows of their boats, a custom still seen in the Mediterranean today.
Eye of Horus or Eye of Ra?
The two are often confused. The Eye of Ra is linked to the sun and to fierce goddesses such as Sekhmet who protect the sun god. The Eye of Horus is linked to the moon, healing and kingship. Both appear in jewelry you can buy in Khan el-Khalili. Read more about ancient Egyptian symbols.
