Horus
/ˈhɔːrəs/
noun
Origin
Ancient Egyptian
Ḥr — The one who is above/the distant one
Overview
Meaning Now
- A major deity in ancient Egyptian religion, typically depicted as a falcon or a man with the head of a falcon, associated with the sky, kingship, and protection.
Literal older meaning
The Distant One
Language path
Ancient Egyptian → Ancient Greek → English
Earliest form
Ḥr
Earliest period
Early Dynastic Period
Journey
Horus was one of the most significant deities in the Egyptian pantheon. He was the son of Osiris and Isis, often engaged in a struggle against his uncle Seth. Pharaohs were considered the living embodiment of Horus on earth, and his name was central to royal titulary.
Evolution
- Early Dynastic Egyptian
Ḥr
“Sky god, sovereign”
Represented by the falcon hieroglyph.
- Middle Egyptian
Ḥr
“Divine king, sky protector”
Associated with the living Pharaoh.
- Ancient Greek
Horos
“The Egyptian deity”
Hellenized form of the original Egyptian name.
- Late Latin/Modern English
Horus
“The Egyptian deity”
Standardized spelling in Western scholarship.
Connections
Word parts
Ḥr
root
Above, distant
Related across languages
Coptic
Hōr
Horus
Explore next
Related to Horus
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.