Symbols of Ancient Egypt: The Uadyet Eye
The Uadyet, also known as Wadjet, is one of the best-known symbols of ancient Kemet (Egypt) and yet one of the most misunderstood today. The Eye of Horus is much more than it seems and cannot be limited to a phrase or a concept.
First of all, it should be noted that its name is Uadyet, and it has multiple functions:
1- As the current conception of the Eye of Horus (Heru), due to the fact that Heru lost his left eye in the battle with his brother Set (also known as Suti) and it was Thoth (Yehuti) who restored it, returning its functionality, as narrated in formula 17 of the Book of the Dead. At the same time, Heru offered it to his father Osiris (Usir) to restore his sight. However, the eye is not always completely restored. His wounded eye is the moon, which grows as Heru's eye heals to full circumference, decreasing again as the eye weakens. For this reason, it was frequently used as a protective amulet. His right eye is the sun and also known as the Eye of Ra.
2- As a mathematical and fractional element, it was used to represent agrarian measurements of surface and volume for cultivable cereal fields, although this use can only be certified from the New Kingdom period. Each feature of the spelling of the word Uadyet was used as a measure indicating perfection. In fact, each part that makes up the eye represents a fraction of 1 that is always ½ of the previous one. This division into 6 parts, the same ones into which Set separated Heru's eye, was discovered by George Möller.
3- One of the most significant functions of the eye, arguably the most important, is its association with the goddess Wadjet, who lends her name to the eye. Wadjet is the protective deity of Lower Egypt, often paired with the goddess Nekhbet, who similarly guards Upper Egypt. Wadjet's name translates to 'green one,' and her connection to the eye stems from her role as one of the deities considered to be the 'Eye of Ra,' alongside Sekhmet and Tefnut. She is depicted perched on the brow of Ra and the pharaoh, in what is known as the Uraeus, and she defends them by spewing fire at their adversaries. Additionally, Wadjet is revered for having nurtured Horus during his infancy and for shielding him from his uncle Set.
4-As writing it has multiple interpretations and translations. It represents the human eye with hawk-like markings, typical of Horus among other hawk gods, and is used as a determinative in the word 'anjet,' which translates to 'Eye of Divinity.' Without the hawk traits, it is translated simply as 'eye' (originally pronounced 'ir'). Thus, it symbolizes the divine eye, both of Horus and Ra, regardless of context.
5-'It serves as a protective amulet against the evil eye, eye diseases, and symbolizes restoration and healing, just as the moon's phases, associated with Horus, cycle from waning to full.
In conclusion, the Wadjet is not a single concrete element but an amalgamation of several entities. The most significant is the representation of the goddess Wadjet herself, who is also the eye of Ra, the injured and healed eye of Horus, the term for divine vision, and a symbol of mathematical perfection. As the eyes of Horus and Ra represent the moon and sun respectively, they can also be linked to deities representing these celestial bodies such as Thoth (Djehuty), Khonsu (Khensu), Thoth (Djehuti), Sekhmet (Sachmis), or Hathor (Het-Heru).
It is thus an oversimplification to categorically state that the Wadjet is solely the Eye of Horus or the Eye of Ra; it embodies multiple concepts within Kemetic mythology.
References:
The Eye of Horus and the synodic month - Gyula Priskin
El impacto de las serpientes sobre la mente humana - Fidel Fernández-Rubio
Gran diccionario de mitología egipcia – Elisa Castel
Egipto. Signos y Símbolos de los Sagrado – Elisa Castel
OTHER SYMBOLS ENTRIES
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