In ancient Egyptian mythology, Horus was one of
five offspring of the original pair of Egyptian gods, Ra and Rhea. Horus' siblings were
Osiris, Set, Isis, and Nephthys. Osiris succeeded Ra as king of Egypt and married Isis,
his sister. Their brother, Set, slew Osiris, who descended to preside over the land of the
dead. The widow, Isis, called upon her brother, Horus, to destroy Set, which he did after
many battles. Eventually, Osiris was resurrected.
There are
many myths of Horus, here is one of our favorites which attempts to explain the eclipses
of the sun and moon. Set and Horus were bitter enemies, yet Set did not dare
to enter the fray openly, for he feared Horus as evil must ever fear good. So he devised
an underhand scheme whereby he might engineer the fall of Horus.
One day Horus sought Ra with a request to be allowed to read the
future in his eyes. This request Ra granted willingly because of his love for Horus, the
beloved of gods and men. As they conversed there was a black hog, a huge, sinister
animal, ferocious of aspect, and with eyes that glinted with cunning and cruelty. Now,
though neither Ra nor Horus was aware of the fact, the black hog was Set himself, who had
the power to take upon him the shape of any animal he chose.
" What an evil monster !" cried Ra, as he looked upon the animal. Horus also
turned his gaze in the direction of the black hog, in whom he still failed to recognize
his enemy. This was Set's opportunity. He shot a bolt of fire straight into the eye of the
god. Horus was half crazed with the violence of the pain. '( Set hath done me this
evil," he cried; "he shall not go unpunished." But Set had vanished, and
was not to be found anywhere. Yet for the evil that had come upon Horus Ra cursed the pig.
When the young god recovered his sight Ra gave to him the city of Pé,
whereat he was much delighted; and at his smile the cloud of darkness
passed away, and all the land rejoiced. |
