Horus
	"Horus"

Horus is the Egyptian God of the sky. He is associated with the falcon, and is often depicted either as a falcon or with a falcon’s head. His eyes are said to be the Sun and the Moon. Horus is one of the greater Gods in Egyptian mythology because he is associated with the coming together of Northern and Southern Egypt.

The life story of Horus begins in conflict. His mother, Isis, and his father, Osiris, were engaged in a bitter dispute with his uncle, Seth. Seth murdered Osiris and scattered the pieces of his body across all of Egypt. This greatly saddened Isis who searched all over Egypt for her husbands’ remains. When found, the Goddess Nepthys helped Isis bring her husband back to life long enough to bear one child. That child was Horus. As part of the bargain, Osiris was then relegated to the underworld where he would become God of that domain.

Horus was raised by his mother in the Papyrus marshes to protect him from his uncle. When he grew old enough, he challenged his uncle’s rule. A vicious battle ensued, which lasted no less than eighty years. A stalemate was eventually declared, at which time the Gods wrote to Osiris in the underworld for his opinion on who should be crowned King. Osiris replied that Set, having achieved the throne through an act of murder, should be removed; and that Horus should reclaim his birthright. It was so decided and Set was either castrated or killed. It is through this battle, according to legend, that the North and South of Egypt became one.

Horus has always had a prominent role in Egyptian society. In particular, the Pharoah of Egypt is said to be an incarnation of Horus. The name Horus was always included in the Pharoah’s name. When the Pharoah died, he was said to become Osiris. Therefore, the Horus-Osiris duo in Egyptian mythology is representative of a cycle of death and rebirth.

Genealogy: Horus is the son of Isis and Osiris.

Symbols: The Falcon.