Egyptian relief sculpture replica of Ra - Horakhty.

Ra-Horakhty

Dimensions :-
Total height of fragment - 17cms / 6-1/2 inches

Width - 12 cm - 4-3/4 inches


Available here is a large amulet featuring Ra-Horakhty - the sun god associated with the dawn and dusk horizons.
Made of a limestone and quartzite composition this replica has been hand painted in the traditional Egyptian colour palette.

This interesting amulet is large enough to have been used as a shrine detail or furniture embellishment.

Ra-Horakhty is a composite deity. Composed of 'Ra' the sun god and 'Horakhty' - Horus of the twin horizons.

He takes the form of a falcon with a human body fused with the sun disc placed directly upon a striped wig. A single hand grasps the stylized ostrich feather of the Goddess Maat.

This single feather speaks of order, balance and harmony in the world order. Carried by Ra-Horakhty who would sail across the sky each day in a solar boat this is a visual image of hope for the ancient Egyptians.
Hope that the sun would rise each day.

The King / Pharaoh had strong associations with Ra-Horakhty as he was also supposed to be reborn each day to keep the land of Egypt in order.
Thus Ra-Horakhty was particularly associated with the eastern horizon.


Further Background information-


Collectively falcons and hawks were revered from pre-dynastic times until the end of empire. In a valley filled with an abundant fauna population the earliest Egyptians would have noticed the stealth and hunting prowess of these wild birds. It is not surprising that the most admired birds received at times top billing in the pantheon of the gods.

Ra was worshiped as supreme god during the old and middle kingdoms and would merge with the upper Egyptian god Amun during the new kingdom thus becoming Amun-Ra. This was a potent symbol of unity between the two lands of Egypt as the cultural divide between north and south was prone to breach.

Ra was the original sun god who sailed through the sky on a solar boat and disembarked on the sunset horizon to board his Meskhet = night boat to travel through the twelve perilous gates of night.