The Eye of Ra was personified as a goddess, acting as Ra’s agent or manifestation. Different goddesses were associated with the Eye, Eye-RAincluding Sekhmet, Hathor, Mut, and Bastet. Each represented a different facet of the Eye’s powers—either destructive or nurturing.

  • Sekhmet, for example, embodied the Eye’s destructive power, particularly when Ra sent her to punish humanity.
  • Hathor, in her peaceful aspect, symbolized the nurturing, motherly role of the Eye.
  • In its protective capacity, the Eye was believed to ward off evil forces and maintain the cosmic order of Maat (truth, balance, and justice).

The Eye of Ra is typically depicted as a stylized eye, often surrounded by a cobra, representing its protective and aggressive nature. This cobra, known as the uraeus, was worn on the pharaoh’s crown to symbolize divine authority and protection, linking the pharaoh to Ra and the cosmic order.

The Eye was also a solar symbol, associated with the heat and light of the sun, which could nurture life but also scorch and destroy.

The Eye of Ra was both a destructive and protective force, symbolizing Ra’s power to uphold the universe’s order by destroying chaos and evil. While it could be fearsome, it also provided protection for Egypt and its rulers, making it a potent symbol of authority and cosmic balance.

The Eye of Ra is often confused with the Eye of Horus, but they have different meanings and associations:

  • The Eye of Ra is connected to Ra and has a more solar, aggressive, and protective aspect.
  • The Eye of Horus, also known as Wadjet, is a symbol of healing, regeneration, and protection, linked to Horus and the moon. It represents the eye that was restored after Horus lost it in his battle with Set.

Eye of Horus

The Eye of Horus symbolizes protection, healing, and restoration, making it one of Ancient Egypt’s most important symbols. Its deep eye-of-horusmythological and spiritual significance connected it to the ideas of balance, renewal, and divine protection, and it was widely used in amulets, jewelry, and funerary objects to safeguard both the living and the dead.

While both the Eye of Horus and the Eye of Ra are powerful symbols, they have distinct meanings:

  • The Eye of Horus is associated with healing, regeneration, and the moon.
  • The Eye of Ra is more closely tied to the sun and represents Ra’s destructive and protective force.

In Egyptian mythology, the battle between Horus and Set symbolizes the struggle between good and evil. During their fight for control of Egypt after the death of Osiris (Horus’ father), Set gouged out Horus’ left eye. However, Thoth, the god of wisdom, magically restored it, bringing it back to full health. The restored eye became a powerful symbol of healing, wholeness, and protection.

Horus, as the god associated with kingship, was linked to the pharaohs, who were considered his earthly embodiments. The Eye of Horus thus became a symbol of royal authority and the protection of the ruling pharaoh. Pharaohs would use the symbol to invoke Horus’ protection, linking their reign with divine order and authority.