Horus was a falcon-headed god of Ancient Egypt, with whom all the kings associated themselves. Hours was amongst the most important Egypt God, particularly because the Pharaoh was supposed to be his early embodiment. Kings would eventually take the name of Horus as one of their own. At the same time the Pharaohs were the followers of Re and so Horus was also associated with the sun as well.

To the people, this solar deity became identified as the son of Osiris. Attempts to resolve the conflicts between these different Egypt God in different parts of Egypt resulted in at least fifteen distinct forms of Horus. They can be divided fairly easily into two groups, Solar and Osirian; otherwise, he is a solar deity. The solar Horus was called the son of Atum, or Re.

There are various other names by which Horus is known in Egyptian mythology.

The Son of Isis

As Harseisis, he is “Horus, the son of Isis”. Hours was conceived magically by Isis following the murder of his father, Osiris. Hours was raised by his mother on the floating island of Chemmis near Buto. He was in constant danger from his evil uncle Seth but his mother protected him and he survived.

Infant Horus

As a child, Horus was known as Harpokrates, the “infant Horus”, and was portrayed as a baby suckled by Isis. He was said to be stunted from the waist down. This may be because his father was dead when he was conceived or perhaps because he was born prematurely.

In later times he was affiliated with the newborn sun. Harpokrates is pictured as a child sucking his thumb and having his hair fashioned in a sidelock that symbolized his youth. On his head, he wore the royal crown.

Horus is The Horizon

As Harmakhis, “Horus is the Horizon”, he personified the rising sun and was associated with Khepera as a symbol of the resurrection of eternal life. The Great Sphinx at the Giza plateau is an example of this form of Horus.

Horus The Elder

Haroeris, “Horus the elder”, was one of the earliest forms of Horus and the patron deity of Upper Egypt. He was said to be the son or sometimes the husband of Hathor. He was also the brother of Osiris and Seth. He became the conqueror of Seth in c. 3000BCE when Upper Egypt conquered Lower Egypt. He was depicted as a falcon-headed man, sometimes wearing the crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt.

It is impossible to distinguish a true Horus from all his many forms. In fact, Horus is mostly a general term for a great number of Falcon gods. Yet in all his forms, he is regarded as the prince of the gods and the specific patron of the living rulers. The worship of Horus was brought from the outside by neighboring tribes who invaded and settled in Egypt. He was initially the Egypt God of War but was quickly absorbed into the state religion.