What is the Eye of Horus?
The Eye of Horus, also commonly called the Eye of Providence, is may be the most well-known ancient Egyptian symbol. The symbol was sacred in ancient Egypt and was used nearly everywhere, whether it was in jewelry, clothes, artwork, the seal of a family, or hieroglyphs in a pyramid.
The Eye of Horus is often used today in jewelry, clothes, and artwork as well. Its design is incredibly eye-catching (pun intended) and mysterious, which draws people in and makes it a popular symbol in day-to-day life.
Where does the Eye of Horus come from?
The Eye of Providence / the Eye of Horus has, as you can imagine, a long history. The Eye of Horus was a symbol of Horus, the Egyptian sky god. It is similar in design to the Eye of Ra, the sun god in ancient Egyptian religion, and can often be confused with the other symbol.
The origin stories of The Eye of Horus are particularly bloody. As the story goes, Osiris, the king of Egypt, was killed by Set, his brother, who wished to become the king of Egypt. Unbeknownst to Set, Osiris’ wife brought Osiris back to life through the use of magic and the woman became pregnant with Horus. Once Horus reached adulthood, he killed his uncle, losing an eye in the process. In another variation of the story, the god is often depicted ripping his own eye out of his head in order for his father to be brought back to life. No matter which way the story went, Horus’ eye was restored using magic.
From this act, the belief in a benevolent eye was born.
What does the Eye of Providence mean?
Throughout history, people have always been intrigued by eyes. The shape and image of eyes pop up often in human content through symbols and artwork throughout many cultures and eras; the connection between art and eyes being the most prominent. Typically, they are a symbol of wisdom, power, and clarity.
The origin of the eye symbol includes themes of rejuvenation, healing, and protection. Because of this, the symbol of the Eye of Horus has been associated with these themes and was believed in ancient Egypt to be all-powerful and to have the power to ward off evil. In short, it has been used as a symbol of protection throughout the ages.
The ancient Egyptians often used the all seeing eye as a seal of protection. They often saw it as the equivalent to the eye of God in Christianity and used it as a great seal within their religions.
How can I use the Eye of Horus?
In today’s world, the Eye of Horus is still alive and in use for a number of reasons. Here are a few of the uses that you can see it in every day:
- People often wear the Eye of Horus as an amulet or pendant as a symbol for protection.
- The Eye of Providence can often be found in jewelry and clothing simply for fashion or to protect them from harm.
- People carry charms bearing the Eye of Horus in their car in order to keep themselves safe on the road.
- If you see a wall hanging in someone’s house that features the Eye of Providence, it is likely there to serve as a seal of protection for the home and all of those inside of it to keep them safe from harm and in good health.
- Sailers will often paint the Eye of Horus on their boats in order to help them have calm seas and weather when sailing.
Where can I find the Eye of Horus?
The Eye of Horus can be found in many shops on a variety of types of jewelry and articles of clothing, mainly appearing in amulets. Here at OroSpot, we’re partial to the golden pendant that we sell, featuring the icon of the Eye of Providence. You can check it out below or shop for our other pieces here!