vived to attack Set in vengeance for the death of Osiris.
Victorious at last, having suffered the loss of one eye in
combat with Set, Horus became Horu-Semai-Taui, the
Horus, Unifier of the Two Lands. He reestablished the
authority of Osiris over the eternal realms and began the
solar cycles of life on the Nile. In the New Kingdom
(1550–1070 B.C.E.), both Horus and Set were depicted as
the gods who brought the double crowns of Upper and
Lower Egypt to the ruler. The Set-Horus-Osiris legends
continued throughout Egyptian history, varying with
each new generation.
Originally, Horus was called “the far one,” depicted
as a man or as a falcon-headed man. He was also revered
as Hor-a’akhuti (Horakhte), the sun god on two horizons,
part of his cult as Harmakhis. As Hor-Khenti-khati, he
was Horus in the Womb, as Hor-sa-Aset, he was the son
of Isis. The blind Horus, representing night sky without a
moon, was Hor-Khenti-an-ma’ati. The god’s other titles
included Hor-Hekenu, the Horus of Praises; Hor-Merti,
the Hawk Headed; and Horus-An-Mutef, Horus, the Pillar
of His Mother.
Horus Eye An occult symbol of Egypt, associated with
the deity HORUS, who lost an eye in his battle to avenge
his father, OSIRIS, SETcaused this wound, and ISISrestored
the eye, which was called “the healthy eye” ever after. It
was considered a powerful symbol. The AMULETdepicting
the Horus Eye was fashioned out of blue or green faience
or from semiprecious stones.
Horus’s Four Sons See CANOPIC JARS.
“Horus-in-the-Nest” This was a term used in all his-
torical periods to designate the heirs or crown princes of
each dynasty when they were proclaimed in public rituals
as future rulers. The title attests to the potential of the
heirs and to their pending ascent to the throne as repre-
sentatives of the gods.
Hor-wen-nefer(fl. 3rd century B.C.E.) Native Egyptian
who tried to establish an independent state at Thebes
Hor-wen-nefer rebelled in 206 B.C.E. against the reign of
PTOLEMY IV PHILOPATOR(221–205 B.C.E.). The Ptolemaic
military confronted Hor-wen-nefer immediately, ending
his attempts and routing confederates and allies.
See also REBELS OF EGYPT.
Hotepiriaket(fl. 23rd century B.C.E.)Fifth Dynasty
priest noted for his tomb text
He served as a mortuary attendant in the temple of KAKAI
(Neferirkaré; r. 2446–2426 B.C.E.) at ABUSIR. Hotepiri-
aket’s tomb contained a remarkable text in which he
implored visitors to donate mortuary gifts of bread, beer,
clothing, ointments, grains, and other items “in great
quantity.” He also offered to intercede for all generous
donors in the afterlife.Hotepsekhemwy (Boethos, Buzau)(fl. c. 2770
B.C.E.) Founder of the Second Dynasty of Egypt
He may have been related to QA’A, the last ruler of the
First Dynasty who died c. 2575 B.C.E. His name meant
“Pleasing in Might.” A Thinite, Hotepsekhemwy was
listed as Boethos by MANETHO and Buzau in other
accounts. He did not erect a tomb at ABYDOS, preferring
southern Saqqara, but he did build a temple there. His
SEREKH(1) designs were discovered near the pyramid
of UNIS(r. 2356–2323 B.C.E.). Various speculations have
been made concerning the actual site of Hotep-
sekhemwy’s tomb. The burial place, a site in SAQQARA,
may have been obscured or demolished when Unis
erected his own complex.House of Adorers An institution associated with the
temple of Amun during the New Kingdom (1550–1070
B.C.E.), also called the House of the Adoratrices, the insti-
tution was part of the evolving roles of women as the
GOD’S WIFE OF AMUN. The services and practices of this
religious organization were absorbed into the God’s Wife
of Amun after the New Kingdom collapsed. Then the
office, restricted to women of royal rank, assumed politi-
cal as well as cultic powers.House of Life See PER-ANKH.Hraf-hef See “HE-WHO-LOOKS-BEHIND-HIMSELF.”Hreré(fl. 10th century B.C.E.)Royal woman of the
Twenty-first Dynasty (1070–945 B.C.E.)
She was the wife of one of the high priests of AMUN, who
ruled at THEBES, in Upper Egypt. Hreré married the high
priest PIANKHI(2) and bore PINUDJEM(1). Piankhi had to
put down rebels during his term of office. There is some
evidence that Hreré possibly was a daughter of HERIHOR.Hu An Egyptian deity associated with the sensation of
taste, the god was worshiped in early eras of the nation
and was mentioned in a document in a temple of
HELIOPOLIS, dating to the reign of SENWOSRET I
(1971–1926 B.C.E.). No cultic shrines dedicated to Hu
have survived.Hua A mountain or high mound in the region of the
NILEbelow the first cataract, Hua was a landmark used by
the New Kingdom (1550–1070 B.C.E.) pharaohs in their
campaigns in NUBIA(modern Sudan). The mountain was
a navigational point for Egyptian ships and a southern
measuring site for all expeditions.
See also GEBEL BARKAL.Hua 173