Ancient Egyptian Gods Gallery
By Barbara Waterson
Last updated 2011-02-17
Horus
Horus was originally the sky-god, envisioned as a falcon who was the divine protector and patron of the king. He was introduced into the group of nine gods known as the Great Ennead, and was said to be the son of Isis and Osiris, born to Isis after the murder of Osiris by the god Seth.
He was raised by his mother to avenge his father's murder, a struggle that lasted 80 years before the gods finally awarded him victory and the throne of Egypt.
Horus had cult centres at Behdet in the Delta, and in Upper Egypt at Hierakonpolis and at Edfu, where he was known as Horus the Behdetite and depicted as a hawk-headed man. Horus was the royal god par excellence and the ruler of the day was considered to be his living embodiment.
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