Eye of Horus

Eye of Horus

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Eye of Horus This article is about the ancient Egyptian symbol. For the video game, see Eye of Horus (video game). The Eye of Horus is an ancient Egyptian symbol of protection, royal power and good health. The eye is personified in the goddess Wadjet (also written as Wedjat,[1][2] or "Udjat",[3] Uadjet, Wedjoyet, Edjo or Uto). It is also known as ''The Eye of Ra''.[4] The name Wadjet is derived from "wadj" meaning "green", hence "the green one", and was known to the Greeks and Romans as "uraeus" from the Egyptian "iaret" meaning "risen one" from the image of a cobra rising up in protection.[5] Wadjet was one of the earliest of Egyptian deities who later became associated with other goddesses such as Bast, Sekhmet, Mut, and Hathor. She was the tutelary deity of Lower Egypt and the major Delta shrine the "per-nu" was under her protection. Hathor is also depicted with this eye. Funerary amulets were often made in the shape of the Eye of Horus. The Wadjet or Eye of Horus is "the central element" of seven "gold, faience, carnelian and lapis lazuli" bracelets found on the mummy of Shoshenq II. The Wedjat "was intended to protect the pharaoh [here] in the afterlife" and to ward off evil. Ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern sailors would frequently paint the symbol on the bow of their vessel to ensure safe sea travel.[6]

The Wedjat, later called The Eye of Horus

An Eye of Horus or Wedjat pendant

Horus Horus was the ancient Egyptian sky god who was usually depicted as a falcon, most likely a lanner or peregrine falcon.[7] His right eye was associated with the sun god, Ra. The eye symbol represents the marking around the eye of the falcon, including the "teardrop" marking sometimes found below the eye. The mirror image, or left eye, sometimes represented the moon and the god Djehuti (Thoth). wedjet – Eye of Horus in hieroglyphs

In one myth, when Set and Horus were fighting for the throne after Osiris's death, Set gouged out Horus's left eye. The majority of the eye was restored by either Hathor or Thoth (with the last portion possibly being supplied magically). When Horus's eye was recovered, he offered it to his father, Osiris, in hopes of restoring his life. Hence, the eye of Horus was often used to symbolise sacrifice, healing, restoration, and protection.[8]

Eye of Horus

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As hieroglyph and symbol There are seven different hieroglyphs used to represent the eye, most commonly "ir.t" in Egyptian, which also has the meaning "to make or do" or "one who does". In Egyptian myth the eye was not the passive organ of sight but more an agent of action, protection or wrath.

Mathematics Further information: Egyptian fraction and 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + 1/16 + · · · In Ancient Egyptian most fractions were written as the sum of two or more unit fractions (a fraction with 1 as the numerator), with scribes possessing tables of answers (see Rhind Mathematical Papyrus 2/n table).[9] Thus instead of 3/4, one would write 1/2 + 1/4. Different parts of the Eye of Horus were thought to be used by the ancient Egyptians to represent one divided by the first six powers of two:

Arithmetic values represented by parts of the Eye of Horus

The right side of the eye = 1/2 The pupil = 1/4 The eyebrow = 1/8 The left side of the eye = 1/16 The curved tail = 1/32 The teardrop = 1/64 The Rhind Mathematical Papyrus contains tables of 'Horus Eye Fractions'.[10] Studies from the 1970s to this day in Egyptian mathematics have clearly shown this theory was fallacious and Jim Ritter definitely Fractions drawn as portions of a square. showed it to be false in 2003.[11] The evolution of the symbols used in mathematics, although similar to the different parts of the Eye of Horus, is now known to be distinct.

Gallery

Wooden case decorated with bronze, silver, ivory and gold

Faience vessel, Bes holding Eyes

Collection of amulets in the British Museum Room 62

Earthenware Wedjat amulet on display at the Louvre, c. 500–300 BCE

Eye of Horus

Scarab. The Walters Art Museum

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Hathor showing her sacred eye inherited from Wedjat—depicted in the Papyrus of Ani

References [1] Pommerening, Tanja, Die altägyptischen Hohlmaße (Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur, Beiheft 10), Hamburg, Helmut Buske Verlag, 2005 [2] Silverman, David P. Chapter 14 "Egyptian Art". Ancient Egypt. Duncan Baird Publishers, 1997. p.228 [3] Alessandro Bongioanni & Maria Croce (ed.), The Treasures of Ancient Egypt: From the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Universe Publishing, a division of Rizzoli Publications Inc., 2003. p.622. According to the editors, "Udjat" was the term for amulets which used the Eye of Horus design. [4] Wörterbuch der ägyptischen Sprache 1, 268.13 [5] The Routledge Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses, George Hart ISBN 0-415-34495-6 [6] Charles Freeman, The Legacy of Ancient Egypt, Facts on File, Inc. 1997. p.91 [7] Wilkinson, Richard H. (2003). The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt. Thames & Hudson. p. 202. [8] Pinch, Geraldine (2004). Egyptian Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Goddesses, and Traditions of Ancient Egypt. Oxford University Press. pp. 131–132 [9] Zaslavsky, Claudia (1993). Multicultural Mathematics: Interdisciplinary Cooperative-Learning Activities, p.20. ISBN 9780825121814. [10] p. 165 [11] Jim Ritter, « Closing the Eye of Horus: the Rise and Fall of 'Horus-Eye Fractions' », in Under One Sky: Astronomy and Mathematics in the ancient Near East, ed. J. Steele and A. Imhausen, Münster: Ugarit-Verlag, 2002, p. 297-323. See also V. Katz (ed.), The Mathematics of Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, India, and Islam: A Sourcebook, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2007 et E. Robson & J. Stedall (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the History of Mathematics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009.

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Article Sources and Contributors Eye of Horus  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=621403178  Contributors: -Ril-, 041744, 112horsegirl, 66DREAMERNCIK, 83d40m, A. Parrot, A412, Aarghdvaark, Advance, Aitias, Aleenf1, Alensha, Andy M. Wang, Anthony Appleyard, Anárion, Apanadragon, Apeloverage, Apepch7, Apizzle, ArgentiumOutlaw, Arthur Rubin, Arthurian Legend, Asarelah, Astrosnlc, BD2412, Banj007, Benjamil, BjKa, Blueboar, Bomac, Brentkrupp, BrokenSphere, Brokenlibrarian, CTF83!, Cassius987, CesarB, Complex (de), Conifer, Cruncher, D.M. from Ukraine, David Eppstein, DavidCBryant, Dbachmann, Deeddx, Diego Moya, Dizzytat, Dmthoth, DocWatson42, Donner60, Doringo, Dougweller, DreamGuy, Eavalentine18, Editor at Large, Eleassar, Elendil's Heir, Emilio Juanatey, EuroCarGT, Eyeofhorus.org.uk, Fadereu, Fan09, Fordmadoxfraud, Franco3450, Fyrael, Fæ, Gabriel Kielland, Galoubet, Geni, Gershwinrb, Gilliam, Gjd001, Grim23, Grm wnr, GuitarDudeness, Habbie, HaeB, HandThatFeeds, Hebrides, Hibernian, Histrion, Hyacinth, IPSOS, IRP, Ida Shaw, Inter, InverseHypercube, Iry-Hor, Isis4563, Iwashere12397, Ixfd64, Jack in the box, James086, Jeccabreen, Jeff Dahl, Jesse Viviano, Jim1138, Joel B. Lewis, John Cline, Kafziel, Katayoku no Tenshi Sefirosu, Kay Dekker, KayeLewis, Ketiltrout, Kintetsubuffalo, Kkarcher, Kusluj, LOL, Laereth, Langing, Leoboudv, Leolaursen, Leushenko, Life of Riley, Littleolive oil, Lmteo, Lotje, LtNOWIS, MXMissles, ManiF, Marjani721, Martpol, Master Of Ninja, Masterpiece2000, Materialscientist, Mayur, McGeddon, Mentifisto, Michael Hardy, Mild Bill Hiccup, Milogardner, Minna Sora no Shita, Mmcannis, Mordicai, MrSativa, Mungo Kitsch, MusikAnimal, Mygerardromance, Natox, NawlinWiki, Nealmcb, Nightenbelle, Nightscream, Nishantkumar19, Oatmeal batman, Ocee, Ohconfucius, OrangeLantern99, PL290, Pascal.Tesson, Paul Barlow, Peak, Philip Trueman, Piano non troppo, Pignut, Plustravel, Poulit, RDBury, Rangek, Reach Out to the Truth, Reago19, Reddi, Redeagle688, Redtigerxyz, Rushbugled13, Ruud Koot, RyanGerbil10, Salix alba, Samuelhaldane, Sandstein, SchfiftyThree, Sephiroth storm, Shoeofdeath, SidP, Skoglund, Slakr, Smithma18, Snow steed, Sopoforic, Taco325i, Tahir mq, Tchoutoye, Technopat, Tesi1700, That Guy, From That Show!, The Haunted Angel, Thoudini, Tide rolls, Tom harrison, Troy 07, Twthmoses, V2oxviesta, V3rt1g0, Vishahu, Vojvodaen, VolatileChemical, Wafulz, Widr, Wizdom, Wowshanerocks, WriterHound, Wrp103, Xorandnotor, YUiCiUS, ZFT, Zondor, Πrate, 425 ,‫ דניאל צבי‬anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors File:Eye of Horus bw.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Eye_of_Horus_bw.svg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike  Contributors: Jeff Dahl File:Wedjat (Udjat) Eye of Horus pendant.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Wedjat_(Udjat)_Eye_of_Horus_pendant.jpg  License: Copyrighted free use  Contributors: Jon Bodsworth File:Oudjat.SVG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Oudjat.SVG  License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported  Contributors: User:BenduKiwi File:Eye of Horus square.png  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Eye_of_Horus_square.png  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors: Hyacinth File:Egypte louvre 068 coffret.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Egypte_louvre_068_coffret.jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.0  Contributors: Aoineko, Clio20, EDUCA33E, JMCC1, Mmcannis, Neithsabes, Perhelion, Ranveig, Tedmek, 2 anonymous edits File:Faience vessel with Bes.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Faience_vessel_with_Bes.jpg  License: Copyrighted free use  Contributors: Jon Bodsworth File:Eye of Horus collection.JPG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Eye_of_Horus_collection.JPG  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors: User:Fæ File:Eye Horus Louvre Sb3566.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Eye_Horus_Louvre_Sb3566.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: User:Jastrow File:Canaanite - Scarab with "Udjat" Eyes - Walters 4239 - Bottom.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Canaanite_-_Scarab_with_"Udjat"_Eyes_-_Walters_4239_-_Bottom.jpg  License: unknown  Contributors: JMCC1, Kaldari File:Hathor with sacred eye in papyrus.JPG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Hathor_with_sacred_eye_in_papyrus.JPG  License: Public Domain  Contributors: 83d40m Image:Commons-logo.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Commons-logo.svg  License: logo  Contributors: Anomie

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