Eye of Horus Meaning: Myth, Uses and Hidden Symbolism

Egyptian symbols played a key role in passing knowledge from one generation to the next. Carved as hieroglyphs on temple walls and obelisks, they were part of the rituals of ancient Egypt. Of them all, the Eye of Horus is probably the most iconic symbol in Egyptian mythology. Its decisive role in the battle between Horus and Seth, and its fame as a protective talisman, made it one of the great symbols of ancient Egypt. Want to know the myth behind this eye and the place it held in the ancient world? Read on.

What Does the Eye of Horus Mean?

This famous myth turned the Eye of Horus into a sacred symbol of sacrifice, restored wholeness and protection in ancient Egypt. It was often engraved on amulets and on jewelry made of gold, silver, lapis lazuli, carnelian or wood, in the hope of bringing the wearer protection, prosperity and wisdom. It was also carved on funerary monuments, which were meant to give the dead a safe passage to the afterlife. And it served as a hieroglyph and as a notation system for writing fractions.

Where Does the Eye of Horus Come From?

In Egyptian mythology, King Osiris ruled the fertile lands, while his brother Seth was left with the dry desert. Eaten up by jealousy, Seth murdered Osiris, took the throne and threw Egypt into chaos.

Killing Osiris wasn't enough. Seth cut his body into fourteen pieces and scattered them across the land so he couldn't reach the underworld. In Egyptian belief, the dead had to be whole, embalmed and buried to enter the afterlife.

Isis, Osiris's wife, their son Horus and those close to them set out to find the scattered pieces. Isis used her ritual incantations to bring Osiris back to life so he could enter the underworld. He became the god of the dead and of resurrection, and the judge of the dead.

Isis raised Horus on her own. Once he was grown, he set out to avenge his father. After a series of fierce battles, Horus finally defeated Seth, but both came out badly wounded.

In one version of the myth, Seth tore out the eye of Horus, cut it into six pieces and scattered them. In another, Horus tore out his own eye as a sacrifice, hoping to bring his father back to life. That version is what makes the Eye of Horus a symbol of sacrifice.

Either way, the eye of Horus was restored by Hathor, goddess of the sky and of love, or by Thoth, god of words, wisdom and the moon. Because the gods had made it whole again, the ancient Egyptians saw it as a sign of protective power and of wholeness regained.

What Was the Eye of Horus Used for in Ancient Egypt?

For the ancient Egyptians, the eye wasn't just for seeing the world. They believed it held special powers tied to protection and action. A single glance was thought to be able to cast a spell, so an "evil eye" could be countered by a "good eye." That's why people put so much faith in the protective power of the Eye of Horus.

In hieroglyphs, the Eye of Horus appeared in several signs carrying the idea of "taking action" or "the one who acts." Sailors painted it on the hulls of their ships to protect themselves from the dangers of the voyage and keep hostile forces away, much like the evil eye symbol.

It also appeared on funerary monuments and amulets to keep the dead safe and protected on their journey to the afterlife, and to ensure them a peaceful existence after death.

How Is the Eye of Horus Worn Today?

Today, the Eye of Horus is still first and foremost a symbol of protection. People wear it as a talisman to guard against negative influences, and keep it at home as a familiar guardian of the household. It also stands for clear sight and a sense of inner calm. For another kind of symbolic guidance, learn how to find your spirit animal.

If you'd like a meaningful symbol with you every day, Eye of Horus jewelry is a lovely way to carry that intention. It comes as a pendant, a necklace or a display stone, so it fits on you as well as in your home. There, it acts as a symbolic guardian against the energies you'd rather keep outside, and it's tied to a peaceful atmosphere.

Explore our collection of Eye of Horus jewelry and our protection jewelry to carry this meaning further.

The Wedjat Eye: What the Six Parts of the Eye of Horus Mean

The Eye of Horus, also called the wedjat eye, is sometimes nicknamed "the eye of the mind." To the Egyptians, it was far more than an image. Each of its six parts stood for a sense or a faculty, and together they formed a system of fractions used to measure grain and volume.

Here are the six parts traditionally linked to the wedjat eye:

• Smell: the triangle-shaped part to the right of the eye.
• Sight: the pupil, in the center of the eye.
• Thought and wisdom: the eyebrow above the eye.
• Hearing: the point aimed toward the temple, to the left of the eye.
• Taste: the curled spiral, like a stem unfurling.
• Touch: the teardrop-shaped line running down below the eye.

Each part matched a fraction (1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32 and 1/64). It's an elegant example of the skill of Egyptian scribes, who blended sacred symbols with mathematical notation.

What Are the Main Elements of the Eye of Horus?

The Eye of Horus is built from three main symbolic elements.

The Eye

The sun sees everything. It's the opening through which light pours out and lights up the world. Put the eye and the sun side by side, and the link is obvious. Often engraved on funerary objects, the Eye of Horus is the eye that opens and shines like a sun, guiding the soul on its journey beyond death.

The Teardrop

Interpretations differ. Some see the teardrop-shaped mark as the scar from the two gods' fight for the throne of Osiris: Thoth is said to have restored the eye of Horus, but the scar stayed as a reminder of the idea of "fair play." Others see it simply as the markings around a falcon's eye, which makes sense, since the peregrine falcon was Horus's sacred animal. The falcon was a solar animal tied to the sun, said to see everything from high in the sky.

The Spiral

Alongside the falcon, the symbol carries another sacred animal: the serpent. The spiral of the Eye of Horus represents the uraeus, the protective serpent of Horus Ra, a relative of the cobra. In Egyptian wisdom, the cobra was a powerful symbol, believed to give life and take it away. Put all these elements together and you get a strong emblem. No wonder so many amulets and pieces of Eye of Horus jewelry have been found: it's a universal symbol of power, protection and light.

What Does Eye of Horus Jewelry Stand For?

Silver Eye of Horus Pendant

The Eye of Horus pendant is a symbol of protection and unity. It carries the energy of the falcon: spirit, freedom, determination, drive and the urge to outdo yourself. The eye itself stands for the unity of the cosmos, the bond that links all of creation beyond the human senses. The pendant is carefully crafted, with an elegant finish.

Eye of Horus Orgonite Pendant

This pendant pairs the Eye of Horus with malachite, a deep green stone with beautiful veining. In crystal lore, malachite is a stone of protection and renewal. Paired with the Eye of Horus, it underscores the symbolic bond between the wearer's spirit and the protective figure of Horus. It's also linked to clear sight, which makes it a natural match for this pendant.

How to Choose Your Eye of Horus Jewelry

We carry plenty of Eye of Horus jewelry, from necklaces to pendants. A few tips to help you choose:

• Pick a piece that fits your taste and style, so you'll love wearing it every day.
• Go with the meaning that speaks to you: protection, clear sight, or simply the beauty of this Egyptian motif.
• Think about the material (silver, stone, metal) and how you'd like to wear it, as a pendant close to your heart or as a piece to display at home.

To dig deeper into the symbolism, browse our natural stone jewelry and our guide to the 7 chakras, or read about fluorite, a stone long linked to clarity and clear sight.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Eye of Horus mean?

In ancient Egypt, the Eye of Horus was a sacred symbol of sacrifice, restored wholeness and protection. It was engraved on amulets and jewelry to bring the wearer protection, prosperity and wisdom, and on funerary monuments to give the dead a safe passage to the afterlife.

Where does the Eye of Horus come from?

It comes from the myth of Osiris. Murdered by his brother Seth, Osiris is brought back to life by Isis, and their son Horus sets out to avenge him. During the fight, Horus's eye is torn out, then restored by the gods, Hathor or Thoth depending on the version. That return to wholeness is what made it a sign of protective power.

Are the Eye of Horus and the wedjat eye the same thing?

Yes. The Eye of Horus is also called the wedjat eye, and sometimes "the eye of the mind." Each of its six parts stood for a sense or a faculty (smell, sight, thought and wisdom, hearing, taste, touch), and together they formed a system of fractions scribes used to measure grain and volume.

How do you wear Eye of Horus jewelry?

It comes as a pendant, a necklace or a display stone, so you can wear it close to your heart or keep it in your home. Choose it by your taste, the material you like (silver, stone, metal) and the meaning that speaks to you, protection or clear sight, so you'll enjoy having it with you every day.

What do the teardrop and spiral on the Eye of Horus mean?

The teardrop is read either as the scar from the two gods' fight or as the markings around a falcon's eye, the falcon being Horus's sacred animal. The spiral represents the uraeus, the protective serpent related to the cobra, a powerful symbol in Egyptian wisdom.