Horus is one of the most significant ancient Egyptian gods, a stellar deity whose cult survived for millennia after the fall of the Old Kingdom. He was most often depicted as a falcon or as a human with a falcon head. The cult and attributes of Horus changed and evolved over the centuries, but he was closely associated with kingship and the pharaohs, who were sometimes considered manifestations of Horus on earth. His sacred animal was therefore an important symbol of royalty and divine kingship in ancient Egypt.
The Falcon
The falcon was the bird most commonly associated with Horus, representing the sky god’s role as a stellar and solar deity. Horus was said to have the head or face of a falcon, and statues and illustrations commonly depict him in this form. The ancient Egyptians observed how the falcon soared high in the sky, likening this behavior to Horus traversing and ruling over the heavens.
Specific species of falcon that were sacred to Horus include the peregrine falcon and the lanner falcon. These aggressive predators were revered for their speed, power and deadly hunting abilities. Falcons were admired by ancient Egyptians for their keen eyesight and association with the blazing sun disk, an ancient symbol of royalty. As a result, the falcon came to symbolize divine kingship, and pharaohs were strongly linked to falcon imagery.
The Peregrine Falcon
The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) is a medium-sized raptor found across much of the world. It is renowned as one of the fastest birds on earth, capable of reaching speeds over 320 km/h (200 mph) when diving on prey. Ancient Egyptians likely revered the peregrine’s speed and lethal attacks from the sky. This powerful bird of prey was believed to be one of Horus’ sacred animal forms, and its image adorned temples, royal regalia and crowns.
The Lanner Falcon
The lanner falcon (Falco biarmicus) is a large desert-dwelling falcon found across North Africa and parts of the Middle East. Its name comes from the Italian word for “lanner,” meaning a small medieval hunting falcon. Although not as swift as the peregrine, the lanner is an adept predator that likely impressed the ancient Egyptians with its fierce nature. Depictions of a Horus-falcon that most closely match the lanner suggest this species may also have been sacred to the god.
The Bennu Bird
In some Egyptian traditions, the bennu bird was sacred to the sun god Ra and also associated with Horus. The bennu was likely based on the African grey heron, but portrayed as a colorful, long-legged wading bird. It was said to have created itself from fire at the beginning of time and lived on top of benben stones.
According to myth, the bennu bird burned itself up in flames every 500 years, then rose renewed from its own ashes. As a symbol of the sun, resurrection and renewal, the bennu bird was sometimes depicted as a manifestation of Horus that represented the royal “pharaoh-as-Horus” rising to heaven.
The Heron
The Goliath heron (Ardea goliath) is among the bird species that scholars believe may be the basis for the mythical Egyptian bennu. This is one of the world’s largest living herons, with gray and white plumage and bright red legs. Ancient Egyptians would have encountered the impressive Goliath heron in rivers along the Nile. Its connection to sun imagery and rebirth could have inspired the sacred symbolism of the bennu.
The Phoenix
Some researchers also propose the bennu was inspired by colorful pheasants or peacocks from Asia that ancient Egyptians encountered through trade networks. Over time, the bennu became mythologized as the phoenix, a fire bird that is periodically reborn from its own cinders. The phoenix remains a popular mythical creature, and its origins can be traced back to sacred birds like the bennu that were associated with Egyptian solar deities.
The Roles of Sacred Birds
Horus’ sacred falcons and the bennu bird filled several symbolic roles in ancient Egyptian religion and mythology:
- Represented Horus’ role as a sky deity and embodied the Egyptian solar cult
- Symbolized divine kingship, power and the ruler’s heavenly descent
- Adorned religious monuments and royal crowns as symbols of just kingship
- Represented the divine status of the pharaohs
- Stood for renewal, rebirth and the daily rebirth of the sun
- Associated with the benben stone, the first site of creation
- Connected to sun temples and solar worship rituals
These mythic birds inspired a rich cultural tradition still seen today in the form of the phoenix and represented core aspects of Egyptian spirituality and politics.
Falcon Imagery in Egyptian Art and Architecture
From ancient temples to crowns to jewelry, falcon and bennu bird imagery appeared widely across Egyptian art and monuments:
- The Great Pyramids of Giza contain reliefs depicting Horus as a falcon.
- The temple complex of Karnak prominently features Horus and falcon imagery on its columns and engravings.
- Tutankhamun’s funeral mask bears a vulture and cobra on the brow; these represented goddesses who protected the pharaoh’s divine role.
- The uraeus on royal crowns depicted a reared cobra, symbolizing the falcon-goddess Wadjet.
- Phoenician jewelry and amulets imported to Egypt sometimes showed the Horus falcon.
- Tombs and monuments across Egypt incorporated the peregrine falcon, the sun disk, and Eyes of Horus.
This sacred bird imagery reinforced the pharaoh’s status as a living god and son of divine kingship stretching back to the falcon deity Horus himself.
Funerary Art
The Egyptians also incorporated falcons and bennu birds into funerary goods for the afterlife:
- Mummified falcons were buried with mummies to provide an emblem of protection.
- Canopic jars containing organs bore stoppers with falcon heads meant to represent Horus guarding and blessing the deceased.
- Some sarcophagi were decorated with wings representing celestial resurrection.
- The Kha funerary papyrus depicts Horus assisting the dead into the afterlife as a falcon.
These artistic choices all reflect the deep symbolic importance of the sacred falcon in ancient Egyptian conceptions of divine kingship, death and rebirth.
Worship
The cult worship of Horus and his sacred falcon evolved over Egypt’s long dynastic history. Some key facets of his worship included:
- Early cult centers at Nekhen, Hierakonpolis and Edfu where Horus was the patron deity
- Rites focused on Horus as a sky god and solar deity
- Ceremonies at sun temples venerating the daily rebirth of the sun, represented by the falcon
- Osirian myths casting Horus as the rightful heir to Osiris’ throne after his death
- Rituals celebrating pharaohs as embodiments of Horus on earth
Horus’ sacred falcons and bennu birds were incorporated into the rituals and iconography of these rites. For example, at the Kom Ombo temple site where Horus was worshipped, archaeologists discovered hundreds of mummified falcons.
Feathered Crowns
Pharaohs wore the atef crown, which incorporated ostrich feathers, to cement their connection to solar deities like Horus and Ra. Ostrich feathers adorned the crown possibly to mimic the swiftness and skyward flight of sacred falcons. The plumage affirmed the king’s role as a living Horus governing Egypt from the heavens.
Animal Sacrifice
At some sites like Hierakonpolis, archaeologists found high concentrations of falcon remains that suggest ritual sacrifice. It’s theorized priests carrying out Horus rites may have sacrificed captured falcons to symbolize the death and rebirth of the divine celestial king. The powerful birds of prey embodied the god’s immortal solar aspect.
Conclusion
The cult of Horus centered around solar worship, just kingship and the promise of renewal. Horus’ sacred living avatars—the falcon, bennu and heron—represented him on earth in temple art, royal regalia, funerary goods and religious practices. Although the specifics of Horus’ worship evolved across Egypt’s history, he remained an important deity tied to Egyptian ideas of kingship, death and rebirth. His sacred birds granted the pharaohs divine authority and provided hope for eternal life. For the ancient Egyptians, Horus in his avian aspects controlled the heavens and promised balance, order and everlasting rule.