Why does horus have a falcon head

I signed up, along with a handful of other Aviary visitors, because I knew I could learn at a deeper level through firsthand observation of live birds of prey. The highly skilled trainer, who worked with a Lanner Falcon during the presentation, relied upon a thick leather glove so her left hand could serve as a suitable and talon-proof resting perch for the bird.

The highlight of the presentation was a hunting demonstration. The trainer first let the falcon circle above us for a short while. Then the bird saw a chunk of meat placed for it and dove quickly, spreading its wings at the last moment to slow down and grab the food with its sharp talons. The falcon, as I could see with my own eyes, was fast, fierce, and powerful, which is why it was used to represent a god in ancient Egypt.

The god Horus, represented as a falcon or a human with a falcon head, was a sun god as well as the ancient Egyptian god of kingship, representing the living king of Egypt. Falcons, along with other birds, could have easily been seen by everyone in ancient Egypt. The sight of a falcon soaring overhead near the sun would have been a particularly striking scene.

It is there to protect the person from harm. Horus the Younger. W hen Horus was a infant, his father was killed by Osiris' brother Seth. To keep her son from being harmed, Isis hid Horus in the marshland of the Nile, where she protected him from the poisonous snakes, scorpions, crocodiles and wild animals.

Where Hathor and Isis nurse and raise him to take revenge on Seth the one who killed his father. Ancient Egyptian literature depicts great battles between Horus and Seth and how Horus defeated Seth and united the two lands of Egypt.

Therefore he was also known as Horus the fighter. English German. Guide to a Perfect trip in Egypt! Horus - The Egyptian Falcon God. More About Horus Horus was also among the oldest gods of Egypt and his name is associated with the start of the dynastic period. Famous Forms Of Horus In the later period, Horus took a new form when he became known as a god and was represented as a naked child standing above a crocodile holding in his hands snakes, scorpions, and lions.

Gods of Egypt. One of the most popular Egyptian myths focuses on the birth of this form of Horus. Egyptians viewed Osiris as a god of peace and prosperity. His younger brother, Seth, became jealous and destroyed Osiris by trapping him, drowning him and distributing the pieces of his body all over the world.

With the help of Anubis , the two performed the first Egyptian embalming to prepare Osiris for the afterlife. With magic, they were able to bring Osiris back to life for a short period of time. Isis became pregnant during this time, later giving birth to Horus. Isis and Hathor protected the young Horus until he was old enough to rule. As a child, he is often seen located next to Isis on a lotus leaf. During the first dynasty c.

Egyptian mythology tells many stories recounting battles between Horus and Seth. The battle between Horus and Seth reached Egyptians as a story of hope. In a time of frequent rebellions and invading occupiers, the defeat of Seth became a powerful symbol. One story as an example of this features Horus and Seth turning into hippopotamuses to battle in the waters of the Nile. For many years, Pharaohs would arm themselves with a spear to kill a hippopotamus in a reenactment of the battle.

This served as a message to their people that they were all powerful over those threatening their rule.