Divine Eyes in Ancient Egyptian Language
In ancient Egyptian language, the word for "eye" (irt) bore a resemblance to words related to "acting" or "doing," which may explain why the eyes of deities were often associated with divine intervention. Since irt was a feminine noun, divine eyes were personified as goddesses. Depending on the context, the creator god’s eyes were linked to various celestial bodies, including the solar disk, the full moon, the morning star, and Sirius. These celestial representations of the eye were often depicted as the wedjat eye, a hybrid of a hawk and a human eye.
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| Bracelet of Sheshonq II with the Eye of Ra, 22nd Dynasty, Egyptian Museum JE 72184. Photo by Tangopaso, 3 August 2023 |
The Eye of Ra: Guardian of Divine Order
The Eye of Ra, in particular, was seen as both Ra’s daughter and his protector. This goddess was linked to both fire and water—her fiery gaze could annihilate enemies of the divine order, while her tears were believed to bring forth life.
Atum and the Search for Shu and Tefnut
According to myth, the primordial creator god Atum produced Shu and Tefnut, who then became lost in the watery abyss of Nun. Atum sent forth his Eye to search for them, an action described as bringing "light to darkness." Some interpretations view this event as the first sunrise and the moment Atum merged with Ra to become the solar creator god. In early versions of the myth, the dispatched Eye may have been associated with the morning star, which heralds the dawn.
The Enraged Eye and the Birth of Humanity
Upon returning with Shu and Tefnut, the Eye became enraged upon discovering that Ra-Atum had grown a new solar eye, the Glorious One. Out of anger or sorrow, the original Eye wept, and from its tears, humanity was created. Ra-Atum then sought to appease the Eye by placing it on his forehead as the uraeus—a rearing cobra coiled around the sun disk—signifying immense divine power, surpassing that of all other deities.
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| the eye of Ra could be depicted as a sun disk with two snakes wearing the crowns of upper and lower Egypt |
Prominent Goddesses as the Eye of Ra
Prominent goddesses such as Hathor, Bastet, and Mut could be identified as both the Eye of Atum and the Eye of Ra. Some texts distinguish between the two, perhaps to separate their creative and destructive roles. The pupil of the Eye was sometimes envisioned as a womb where gods and other beings were formed, and in some depictions, a child or a dwarf figure appears within the Eye, representing the sun about to rise in the red sky of dawn.
The Eye of Ra and the Sun's Dangerous Heat
The unwavering gaze of the Eye of Ra embodied the sun’s dangerous heat. The sun’s rays were likened to the arrows of a divine archer, capable of destroying the wicked. These rays could also dry up life-giving waters and transform fertile land into barren desert. Many myths recount a conflict between Ra and his daughter, the Eye goddess. In these stories, she wanders into the deserts of the south or west, assuming the form of a wild lioness or a feral cat. Some scholars interpret the sudden vanishing of the Eye of Ra as a metaphor for a solar eclipse.
The Return of the Eye Goddess and the Nile Flood
Ra, realizing his need for the Eye’s power to maintain order and protect against chaos, dispatches one or more gods on a perilous mission to retrieve the wayward goddess. Deities such as Thoth, Shu eventually pacify her and persuade her to return to Egypt. During the Greco-Roman period, the return of the Eye goddess was associated with the heliacal rising of Sirius, an event signaling the arrival of the life-sustaining yet dangerous annual Nile flood.
Upon her return, the goddess is joyously welcomed by all creation, reconciles with her father, and assumes the role of his consort, ultimately giving birth to a divine child, a new form of the sun god. In some regions, a dual-goddess tradition emerged, worshipping the Eye goddess in both her aggressive and pacified forms. Examples include Satet and Anuket in Aswan, as well as Ayet and Nehemetawy in Herakleopolis.
The Eye of Ra's Role in Battling Chaos
The Eye of Ra frequently fought on behalf of her father. When humanity rebelled against the aging sun god, Ra unleashed the Eye in the form of Sekhmet, a ferocious lioness, to eradicate the rebels. Her wrath was so intense that she had to be deceived into ceasing her rampage, preventing the annihilation of humankind. In the eternal struggle against Apophis, the chaos serpent, the Eye of Ra battled under various names, including Bastet, the Lady of Terror; Wadjyt, the Devouring Flame; Sekhmet, the Glorious Eye; and Wosret, the Great One.
The feline aspect of the Eye goddess also symbolized royal authority in its most fearsome form. Pharaohs were often likened to Sekhmet, crushing their enemies just as she had vanquished the foes of Ra. Satirical artwork from ancient Egypt, featuring mice triumphing over cats, may have subtly conveyed a desire among the common people to challenge royal oppression.
The Eye of Ra in Religious Rituals and Temple Practices
Beyond mythology, the Eye of Ra held deep significance in religious rituals and temple practices. Priests invoked the power of the Eye in protective spells, particularly those inscribed on amulets and tomb walls. The symbol of the uraeus, often depicted on royal crowns and temple reliefs, reinforced the concept of divine kingship and the Pharaoh’s role as the earthly representative of the gods.
The Eye of Ra in Funeral Rites
The Eye of Ra was also a central figure in funeral rites. Tomb paintings frequently depicted the Eye overseeing the deceased’s journey through the underworld, ensuring their safe passage into the afterlife. Many spells from the Book of the Dead refer to the Eye’s guidance, positioning it as both a weapon against malevolent forces and a source of light in the darkness of the Duat.
Celebrating the Dual Nature of the Eye Goddess
During religious festivals, statues of the Eye goddess were paraded through temples and cities, celebrating her dual nature as both destroyer and life-giver. These processions were accompanied by music, dance, and offerings meant to appease the goddess and secure her favor.
The Wedjat Eye: Healing and Protection
The concept of the divine eye extended beyond Ra’s mythology. The Wedjat eye, also known as the Eye of Horus, symbolized healing, protection, and wholeness. Unlike the Eye of Ra, which was often associated with wrath and destruction, the Eye of Horus embodied restoration and balance. Nevertheless, the two symbols were sometimes used interchangeably, reinforcing the broader Egyptian belief in the cosmic struggle between order (ma'at) and chaos (isfet).
Thus, the Eye of Ra represented both destruction and renewal—an embodiment of divine power that could smite enemies yet nurture life, ensure order, and sustain creation. Its myths reflect the Egyptians’ deep understanding of balance, portraying the interplay between chaos and harmony in the cosmic and earthly realms. Through its presence in art, religion, and royal iconography, the Eye of Ra remained a potent emblem of divine authority and cosmic order, shaping the spiritual landscape of ancient Egypt for millennia.