NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Four sons of Horus

The Four sons of Horus were a group of four gods in Egyptian religion, who were essentially the personifications of the four canopic jars, which accompanied mummified bodies. Since the heart was thought to embody the soul, it was left inside the body, and the brain was thought only to be the origin of mucus, so it was reduced to liquid, syphoned off, and discarded. This left the stomach (and small intestines), liver, (large) intestines, and lungs, each being stored in their own jar. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1025x966, 473 KB)Photograph taken by me; British Museum 26/1/07 I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1025x966, 473 KB)Photograph taken by me; British Museum 26/1/07 I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Hapy, meaning runner, was a solar deity in Egyptian mythology, and the symbolisation of the annual flood of the Nile River, which deposited rich silt on the banks, allowing the Egyptians to grow crops. ... This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ... Ancient Egyptian religion encompasses the beliefs and rituals of Ancient Egypt. ... ... The word mummification has more than one meaning: The process of preparing a dead body for preservation; or the preservation of a body through natural processes; see: Mummy The practice of restraining a living body as part of a sexual bondage experience: see mummification (bondage). ... The heart and lungs, from an older edition of Grays Anatomy. ... In Egyptian mythology, the human soul is made up of seven parts: the Ren, Sekhem, the Akh, the Ba, the Ka, the Sheut, and the Sekhu. ... A sketch of the human brain by artist Priyan Weerappuli, imposed upon his sketch of the profile of Michaelangelos David In animals, the brain, or encephalon (Greek for in the head), is the control center of the central nervous system. ... Mucus is a slippery secretion of the lining of various membranes in the body (mucous membranes). ... In anatomy, the stomach (in ancient Greek ÏƒÏ„ÏŒÎ¼Î±Ï‡Î¿Ï‚) is an organ of the gastrointestinal tract involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication. ... The liver is an organ in some animals, including mammals (and therefore humans), birds, and reptiles. ... In anatomy, the intestine is the portion of the alimentary canal extending from the stomach to the anus and, in humans and other mammals, consists of two segments, the small intestine and the large intestine (or colon). ... Respiratory system The lungs flank the heart and great vessels in the chest cavity. ...

The earliest reference to the Sons of Horus is found in the Pyramid Texts where they are described as friends of the king, as they assist the king in his ascension to heaven in the eastern sky by means of ladders. Their association with Horus specifically goes back to the Old Kingdom when they were said not only to be his children but also his souls. As the king, or Pharaoh was seen as a manifestation of, or especially protected by, Horus, these parts of the deceased pharaoh were seen as parts of Horus, or rather, his children, an association which did not diminish with each successive pharaoh. Since Horus was their father, so Isis, Horus' original wife (i.e. his wife in early mythologies), was usually seen as their mother, though in the details of the funerary ritual each son, and therefore each canopic jar, was protected by a particular goddess. Just as the Sons of Horus protected the contents of a canopic jar, the kings organs, so they in turn were protected. As they were male in accordance with the principles of male/female duality their protectors were female. The Pyramid Texts are a collection of ancient Egyptian religious texts from the time of the Old Kingdom, mostly inscriptions on the walls of tombs in pyramids. ... Horus is an ancient god of the Ancient Egyptian religion, whose cult survived so long that he evolved dramatically over time and gained many names. ... The Old Kingdom is the name commonly given to that period in the 3rd millennium BC when Egypt attained its first continuous peak of civilization complexity and achievement - this was the first of three so-called Kingdom periods, which mark the high points of civilization in the Nile Valley (the... Pharaoh is a title used to refer to any ruler, usually male, of the Egyptian kingdom in the pre-Christian, pre-Islamic period. ... Horus is an ancient god of the Ancient Egyptian religion, whose cult survived so long that he evolved dramatically over time and gained many names. ... :This article discusses the ancient goddess. ...

Imsety in human form, protected the liver and was protected by Isis. Hapi in baboon form, protected the lungs and was protected by Nephthys. Duamutef in jackal form, protected the stomach and was protected by Neith. Qebehsenuef in hawk form, protected the large intestines and was protected by Serket. In Egyptian mythology, Imset was a son of Horus and a funerary deity, one of the four brothers who were associated with the canopic jars (specifically: the one which contained the liver). ... :This article discusses the ancient goddess. ... Hapi was one of the sons of Horus depicted in funerary literature as protecting the throne of Osiris in the Underworld. ... In Egyptian mythology, Nephthys (spelt Nebet-het, and Nebt-het, in transliteration from Egyptian hieroglyphs) is one of the Ennead of Heliopolis, a daughter of Nut and Geb, and the wife of Set. ... In Egyptian mythology, Duamutef (also known as Tuamutef) was one of the Four sons of Horus and a funerary god who protected the stomach and large intestines of mummified corpses, kept in a canopic jar. ... Neith In Egyptian mythology, Neith (also known as Nit, Net and Neit) was a psychopomp, a goddess of war and the hunt and the patron deity of Sais, in the Western Delta. ... Qebehsenuef was one of the sons of Horus in Egyptian mythology, the god of protection and of the West. ... In Egyptian mythology, Serket (also spelt Serket-hetyt, Selket, Selkis, Selchis, and Selkhit) was originally the deification of the scorpion. ...

The classic depiction of the Four sons of Horus on Middle Kingdom coffins show Imsety and Duamutef on the eastern side of the coffin and Hapi and Qebehsenuef on the western side. Because the eastern side is decorated with a pair of eyes and the mummy was turned on its side to face the east and the rising sun, this side is sometimes referred to as the front. The sons of Horus also became associated with the cardinal compass points, so that Hapi was the North, Imsety the south, Duamutef the east and Qebehsenuef the west.

Up until the end of the 18th Dynasty the canopic jars had the head of the king but later they were shown with animal heads. Inscriptions on coffins and sarcophagi from earliest times showed them usually in animal form. Known rulers, in the History of Egypt, for the Eighteenth Dynasty. ...

Hapi

Hapi the baboon headed son of Horus, protected the lungs of the deceased and was in turn protected by the goddess Nephthys. The spelling of his name includes a hieroglyph which is thought to be connected with steering a boat, although its exact nature is not known. For this reason he was sometimes connected with navigation, although early references call him the great runner. Hapi was one of the sons of Horus depicted in funerary literature as protecting the throne of Osiris in the Underworld. ... It has been suggested that Hieroglyph (French Wiki article) be merged into this article or section. ... In Egyptian mythology, Nephthys (spelt Nebet-het, and Nebt-het, in transliteration from Egyptian hieroglyphs) is one of the Ennead of Heliopolis, a daughter of Nut and Geb, and the wife of Set. ... A hieroglyph is one part of an ideographic writing system that is often found carved in stone. ...

"You are the great runner;come, that you may join up my father N and not be far in this your name of Hapi, for you are the greatest of my children - so says Horus" (Coffin Texts 521, R.O.Faulkner) The Coffin Text, which basically superseded the Pyramid Texts as magical funerary spells at the end of the Egyptian Old Kingdom, are principally a Middle Kingdom phenomenon, though we have found examples as early as the late Old Kingdom. ...

In Spell 151 of the Book of the Dead he is given the following words to say: Book of the Dead is the common name for ancient Egyptian funerary texts known as The Book of Coming [or Going] Forth By Day. ...

"I have come that I may be your protection, O N; I have knit together your head and your members, I have smitten your enemies beneath you, and I have given you your head forever." (R.O.Faulkner)

As one of the four pillars of Shu and one of the four rudders of heaven he was associated with the North. (see Spell 148 Book of the Dead, R.O.Faulkner)

Imsety

Imsety the human headed son of Horus, protected the liver of the deceased and was in turn protected by the goddess Isis. It seems that his role was to help revivify the corpse of the dead person, as he is asked to 'lift them up' by Horus. In Egyptian mythology, Imset was a son of Horus and a funerary deity, one of the four brothers who were associated with the canopic jars (specifically: the one which contained the liver). ... It has been suggested that Hieroglyph (French Wiki article) be merged into this article or section. ... :This article discusses the ancient goddess. ...

"You have come to N; betake yourself beneath him and lift him up, do not be far from him, (even) N, in your name of Imsety." (Coffin Texts 520, R.O.Faulkner) The Coffin Text, which basically superseded the Pyramid Texts as magical funerary spells at the end of the Egyptian Old Kingdom, are principally a Middle Kingdom phenomenon, though we have found examples as early as the late Old Kingdom. ...

To stand up meant to be active and thus alive while to be prone signified death.

"I have come that I may be your protection, O N; and that I may make your house to flourish and endure, in accordance with the command of Ptah and in accordance with the command of Re." (R.O.Faulkner)

Again the theme of making alive and revivifying is alluded to through the metaphor of making his house flourish. He does this with the authority of two creator gods Ptah and Re (Ra). Ptah In Egyptian mythology, Ptah (also spelt Peteh) was the deification of the primordial mound in the Ennead cosmogony, which was more literally referred to as Ta-tenen (also spelt Tathenen), meaning risen land, or as Tanen, meaning submerged land. ... This article is about the Egyptian god. ...

As one of the four pillars of Shu and one of the four rudders of heaven he was associated with the South. (see Spell 148 Book of the Dead, R.O.Faulkner)

Duamutef

Duamutef the jackal headed son of Horus, protected the stomach of the deceased and was in turn protected by the goddess Neith. It seems that his role was to worship the dead person, and his name means literally 'he who worships his mother'. Horus says: In Egyptian mythology, Duamutef (also known as Tuamutef) was one of the Four sons of Horus and a funerary god who protected the stomach and large intestines of mummified corpses, kept in a canopic jar. ... It has been suggested that Hieroglyph (French Wiki article) be merged into this article or section. ... Neith In Egyptian mythology, Neith (also known as Nit, Net and Neit) was a psychopomp, a goddess of war and the hunt and the patron deity of Sais, in the Western Delta. ...

"Come and worship my father N for me, just as you went that you might worship my mother Isis in your name Duamutef.' (Coffin Texts 522, R.O.Faulkner) The Coffin Text, which basically superseded the Pyramid Texts as magical funerary spells at the end of the Egyptian Old Kingdom, are principally a Middle Kingdom phenomenon, though we have found examples as early as the late Old Kingdom. ...

Rather confusingly, as is borne out here, Isis had a dual role. Not only was she the wife of Osiris and the mother of Horus, but she was also the consort of Horus the Elder and thus the mother of the sons of Horus. This ambiguity is added to when, as you will see below Duamutef calls Osiris his father, rather than Horus. For other uses, see Osiris (disambiguation). ... Horus is an ancient god of the Ancient Egyptian religion, whose cult survived so long that he evolved dramatically over time and gained many names. ...

So this son of Horus is the one who worships the mother, Isis. Isis in her guise as Weret-Hekau was the 'Great one of Magic'. She gained her magic by tricking the sun god into revealing his secret name.

"I have come that I may protect my father Osiris from him who would harm you ..." (R.O.Faulkner)

The text does not make it clear who is going to harm Osiris, although there are two major candidates. The obvious one is Set the murderer of Osiris, somehow the son who worships his mother Isis is able to assist in overcoming Set. the other possibility is Apophis the serpent demon who prevents the suns passage and thus the resurrection of Osiris. Either way Duamutef through his worship of Isis has the power to protect the deceased from harm. In mathematics, a set can be thought of as any collection of distinct things considered as a whole. ... This article is about the Egyptian demon. ...

As one of the four pillars of Shu and one of the four rudders of heaven he was associated with the East. (see Spell 148 Book of the Dead, R.O.Faulkner)

Qebehsenuef

Qebehsenuef the hawk headed son of Horus, protected the intestines of the deceased and was in turn protected by the goddess Serket. It seems that his role was to refresh the dead person, and his name means literally 'he who libates his siblings'. Horus says: Qebehsenuef was one of the sons of Horus in Egyptian mythology, the god of protection and of the West. ... It has been suggested that Hieroglyph (French Wiki article) be merged into this article or section. ... In Egyptian mythology, Serket (also spelt Serket-hetyt, Selket, Selkis, Selchis, and Selkhit) was originally the deification of the scorpion. ...

"Come refresh my father; betake yourself to him in your name of Qebehsenuef. You have come that you may make coolness for him after you ... " (Coffin Texts 523, R.O.Faulkner) The Coffin Text, which basically superseded the Pyramid Texts as magical funerary spells at the end of the Egyptian Old Kingdom, are principally a Middle Kingdom phenomenon, though we have found examples as early as the late Old Kingdom. ...

Libation or showering with cool water was a traditional form of worship in Ancient Egypt. There are many images of the king libating gods and images of gods and so on. There is a sense of a dual function of cleansing and refreshing them.

"I join your bones together for you, I collect your members for you, I bring your heart to you, I set it in its place in your body for you ... "(R.O.Faulkner)

After Set murdered the king Osiris in order to hide his body he cut it into pieces and scattered them around the Delta. This was an anathema to the Egyptians and the service that Qebehsenuef gives to the dead is to reassemble their members so they can be properly preserved. In mathematics, a set can be thought of as any collection of distinct things considered as a whole. ... For other uses, see Osiris (disambiguation). ...

As one of the four pillars of Shu and one of the four rudders of heaven he was associated with the West. (see Spell 148 Book of the Dead, R.O.Faulkner)

Jackal, baboon, falcon and human

The reasons for attributing these four animals to the sons of Horus is not known. Although we may point to other associations which these animal's have in Egyptian mythology. The baboon with the moon and Thoth, the god of wisdom and knowledge, and also the baboons which chatter when the sun rises raising their hands as if in worship. The jackal (or possibly dog) linked to Anubis and the act of embalming and also Wepwawet the 'opener of the ways' who seeks out the paths of the dead. The hawk with Horus himself and also Seker the mummified necropolis god. And the man who may be linked to Osiris himself or Onuris the hunter. Anubis is the Greek name for the ancient jackal-headed god of the dead in Egyptian mythology whose hieroglyphic version is more accurately spelled Anpu (also Anup, Anupu, Wip, Ienpw, Inepu, Yinepu,Inpu, or Inpw). ... In Egyptian mythology, Wepwawet (also spelt Upuaut, Wep-wawet, and Ophois) was originally a war god, whose cult centre was Atef-Khent (Lycopolis), in Upper Egypt. ...

However what is known is that the Egyptian's themselves linked them, possibly through false anachronism, with the ancient kings of Lower and Upper Egypt, the Souls of Pe and Nekhen. In Spells 112 and 113 of the Book of the Dead which have their origins in the earlier Coffin Texts Spells 157 and 158, it is described how Horus has his eye injured, and because of this is given the sons of Horus: Book of the Dead is the common name for ancient Egyptian funerary texts known as The Book of Coming [or Going] Forth By Day. ... The Coffin Text, which basically superseded the Pyramid Texts as magical funerary spells at the end of the Egyptian Old Kingdom, are principally a Middle Kingdom phenomenon, though we have found examples as early as the late Old Kingdom. ...

"Imsety, Hapi, Duamutef, Qebehsenuef whose father was the elder Horus and whose mother is Isis. - and he [Horus] said to Re: 'Give me two in Pe and two in Nekhen from this second company. May I be in my own right an alloter of eternity, an opener of everlasting, a queller of strife in this my name of Horus-who-is-on-his-pillar'. (CT 157 , R.O. Faulkner).

The injury of Horus' eye is part of the myth cycle known as the Contending of Horus and Set recounting how they fought over the crown of Egypt.

In a unique illustration in the tomb of Ay the sons of Horus are shown wearing the red and white crowns as the Souls of Pe and Nekhen. Image File history File links Sonsofhorus1. ... Image File history File links Sonsofhorus1. ...

The attributes of the sons of Horus are not limited to their role as the protectors of canopic jars. they appear as the four rudders of heaven in Spell 148 of the Book of the Dead, as four of the seven celestial spirits summoned by Anubis in Spell 17 of the Book of the Dead and through this are linked to the circumpolar stars of the Great Bear. Book of the Dead is the common name for ancient Egyptian funerary texts known as The Book of Coming [or Going] Forth By Day. ... Book of the Dead is the common name for ancient Egyptian funerary texts known as The Book of Coming [or Going] Forth By Day. ... The term Great Bear can refer to: Ursa Major, the constellation, whose name is the Latin for Great Bear. The Great Bear, an artwork by Simon Patterson based on the London Tube map. ...

Sons of Horus in modern culture

The four sons of Horus are mentioned and featured as part of the four-part quest puzzle in the Raven Software computer game Hexen II. The player must locate the four Canopic jars and place them all at a resting place to unlock a passage and proceed with the gameplay. Hexen II is a first person shooter computer game developed by Raven Software from 1996 to 1997, published by id Software and distributed by Activision. ... Among the ancient Egyptians, canopic jars were covered funerary vases, normally composed of clay, intended to keep the viscera of mummified corpses. ...

They also had some significance in the movie The Mummy. The insides of Imhotep was placed inside the jars.
The Mummy is the title of: a 1932 movie starring Boris Karloff: see The Mummy (1932 movie) a 1959 movie starring Christopher Lee: see The Mummy (1959 movie) a 1999 movie starring Brendan Fraser: see The Mummy (1999 movie) a novel by Anne Rice: see The Mummy (novel) This is... Statuette of Imhotep in the Louvre another image of the same statue Imhotep (sometimes spelled Immutef, Im-hotep, or Ii-em-Hotep, Egyptian ) (2667 BC - 2648 BC) is the first architect and physician known by name in written history. ...

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