Eye of Ra Meaning

The mystery of ancient Egypt, its symbols, legends and facts are all extremely intriguing. Among all these mysterious symbols and legends is that of the eye of Ra and what it stands for. A lot of you have heard of the eye of Ra, also known as the eye of Horus. Popularized as a tattoo symbol, worn as an amulet, and depicted in other traditional artifacts, the eye of Ra holds a unique meaning and symbolism. There is an interesting story about how this symbol came into being, and what it stands for.

The Symbolism of the Eye of Ra

The eye of Ra or the Egyptian eye of Horus meaning stands as a symbol of protection and royal power. Horus was an ancient Egyptian sky god, with the head of a falcon. He was the son of Isis (a great matriarchal magician) and Orisis (the greatest of all the gods). While his right eye stood for the sun, or Ra, the left eye was associated with the moon, and the god Djehuti. Orisis was murdered by his own son and Horus' brother, Seth. In a battle to between Horus and Seth, to avenge the death of their father along with a strong desire for the throne, Horus lost his left eye. This battle was lost by Seth, but in the process, the eye was lost by the Egyptian God Horus. This eye was reassembled by Thoth, the god of magic and wisdom, thereby giving it the status of 'wedjat', literally translated as the sound one. This eye was given by Horus as an amulet to this father Orisis, as a way of restoring his life. As such, the eye of Ra came to be known as the eye of protection, healing and power. Soon, this symbol became commonplace and was seen in artifacts, with mummies, and in jewelry (as a protective amulet).

They eye of Ra holds a deeper symbolism beyond being that of protection and healing. It is made up of six parts, that are associated with the six senses, i.e., touch, taste, hearing, sight, and smell. Each part is represented in terms of a fraction, which has been explained and can be associated with the picture given above:

• 1/2: Smell (Corresponds with the part of the eye that resembles a nose)
• 1/4: Sight (Corresponds with the pupil)
• 1/8: Thought (Corresponds with the eyebrow)
• 1/16: Hearing (Corresponds with the arrow-like portion on the left of the eye)
• 1/32: Taste (Corresponds with the extended curve below the eye)
• 1/64: Touch (Corresponds with the tear-drop below the eye)

In today's day and time, the eye of Ra is most popular as a tattoo. A lot of people get the tattoo for the symbolism it holds, or simply because of its aesthetic appeal to some. The tattoo also stands for protection, healing and royal power. It is also believed as a protective power against the evil spirit. Another meaning of this tattoo that is fairly lesser known is that of struggle between the two brothers for truth and power.

With so much history behind it, it is no wonder that the eye of Ra has become the most popular element of tattoo art among the various ancient Egyptian symbols, that is further enhanced with meaningful sayings, quotes and other symbols that help make the eye of Ra meaning even deeper. You too may choose to sport this symbol as an amulet or a tattoo if you are a fan of all the mysteriousness that the ancient Egyptian culture has to offer.