Egypt Collection

Next to the ankh symbol, the icon commonly called the Eye of Horus is the next most well-known. It consists of a stylized eye and eyebrow. Two lines extend from the bottom of the eye, possibly to mimic the facial markings on a falcon, as Horus’s symbol was a falcon.

In fact, three different names are applied to this symbol: the eye of Horus, the eye of Ra, and the Wadjet. These names are based on the meaning behind the symbol, not specifically its construction.

Horus is the son of Osiris and nephew to Set. After Set murdered Osiris, Horus and his mother Isis set to work putting the dismembered Osiris back together and hence reviving him as lord of the underworld. According to one story, Horus sacrificed one of his own eyes for Osiris. In another story, Horus loses his eye in a subsequent battle with Set. As such, the symbol is connected with healing and restoration.

The symbol is also one of protection. It was commonly used in protective amulets worn by both the living and the dead. The Eye of Horus is the most common use of the eye symbol.