Eye of Horus - Definition and Overview

The Eye of Horus is an Ancient Egyptian symbol of protection and power. Horus is the Egyptian god of the sky. In the 3rd millennium BC, a popular belief was that Horus' father Osiris was killed by another god, Set. Thus began an 80-year war between Set and Horus. Horus is said to have torn off a leg and the testicles of Set, who in turn took out Horus' left eye. (Hence he is referred to as "the one-eyed god"). Horus, winning the war (with support from Neith) became the ruler of Lower and Upper Egypt. His eye was later returned to him. There exists a temple dedicated to Horus in Edfu, Egypt. The Eye of Horus (flanked by Nekhbet and Wadjet) found under the 12th layer of bandages on Tutankhamun's mummy; the ancients believed this symbol of indestructibility would assist in rebirth.

The tradition of freemasonry adopted the symbol and as such it has survived to this day, and appears as the Eye of Providence on the recto of the Great Seal of the United States.