egypt

Horus as a Falcon Headed Man

Key Dates
1800
BC

Created during the Middle Kingdom 2055-1650 BCE, given to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum 1903 by the Egypt Exploration Fund

Key People

The Eye of Horus is an ancient Egyptian symbol of protection and royal power from deities, in this case from Horus or Ra. The symbol is seen on images of Horus’ mother, Hathor, and on other deities associated with her.

Horus ruled the living and his father Osiris ruled the dead. He protected the reigning pharaohs, and appears as . In this limestone tablet, Horus, the ancient Egyptian sky god, also known as Re or Ra, is pictured as a falcon headed man wearing a wig and the double crown of Egypt. The right eye represents a Peregrine Falcon’s eye and the markings around it, that includes the “teardrop” marking sometimes found below the eye. As the wedjet (also udjat or utchat), it also represented the sun, and was associated with Horus’ mother, Isis, and with wedjet another goddess, as well as the sun deity Ra (Re). The mirror image, or left eye, sometimes represented the moon and the god Tehuti

Origin & Collection
Additional information on display location:
Ancient Egypt collection, ground floor to the left of main entrance
Reference Number:
1903.209.c
Physical properties
Materials:

Limestone