Symbolism of the Eye of Horus
6th GRADE STANDARDS:
Art

Aesthetic Valuing 4.1 Construct and describe plausible interpretations of what
they perceive in works of art.
English

Literary Response and Analysis 3.6: Identify and analyze features of themes
conveyed through characters, actions, and images.
History

World History and Geography 6.2: Students analyze the geographic, political,
economic, religious, and social structures of the early civilizations Egypt.
OBJECTIVE:
Presented with information about the Eye of Horus, students will be able to discuss and
identify the symbolism within this image and how the Egyptian people interpreted and
perceived each feature of this symbol.
MATERIALS:

Horus PowerPoint

Paper/pens/pencils/markers
LESSON:
INTIATE: (Engage, activate prior knowledge, review)

Begin lesson by showing students the peace symbol on Horus PowerPoint.

Ask students to answer questions pertaining to the symbol:


What is this?

What does this represent?

What is a symbol?

What are some examples of other types of symbols?
Explain the history and representations of the peace sign to students on slide 3
of the Horus PowerPoint.
 Used to protest and end nuclear warfare.
 The logo quickly became a world-wide symbol for peace.
 The peace sign was also used as a symbol for peace in the civil rights
marches.

This warm up is to help students understand what a symbol is and how we
associate an image with a particular meaning.
INSTRUCT:
Modeled and Shared Learning: (Vocabulary development, active involvement)

Review key vocabulary of the lesson on Horus PowerPoint slide 4.

Horus: The ancient Egyptian god of the sun, son of Osiris and Isis,
represented as having the head of a hawk.

Eye of Horus: An ancient Egyptian symbol of protection, royal power and
good health.

Set: An ancient Egyptian god of the desert, storms, darkness, chaos and
foreigners, the personification of evil.

Isis: An ancient Egyptian goddess of fertility, the sister and wife or Osiris.

Osiris: An ancient Egyptian god, ruler of the underworld and judge of the
dead.

Mythology: A set of stories, traditions, or beliefs associated with a
particular group of the history of an event, arising naturally or deliberately
fostered.

Theme: A central or main idea of a story.

Symbols: Something used for or regarded as representing something
else; a material object representing something, often something
immaterial; emblem, token, or sign.

Imagery: The formation of mental images, figures, or likenesses of things
of such images collectively.

Show students review the facts of Horus on PowerPoint slide 5.

The son of Osiris and Isis, Horus was a god of the sky and is usually
depicted as a falcon, or a man with a falcon’s head wearing the crown of
all Egypt.

Horus’ name mean “He Who is Above” and is probably linked to his status
as a god of the sky and to the high soaring of the falcon.

He is probably most well-known as the protector of the ruler of Egypt.

After Osiris was murdered by his brother Seth, Horus fought with Seth for
the throne of Egypt.

In this battle, Horus lost one of his eyes. The eye was restored to him and
it became a symbol of power, protection, and healing for the ancient
Egyptians.

Show students what the Eye of Horus represents on Horus PowerPoint slide 6.
 Healing
 Health
 Protection
 Power

Show students the ways in which the Eye of Horus was used by Ancient
Egyptians on Horus PowerPoint slide 7.
 The Eye of Horus was believed to have healing and protective
power, and it was used as a protective amulet.
 The symbol was frequently used in jewelry made of gold, silver
lapis, wood, porcelain, and carnelian. This amulet was used for
protection and healing.
 The Eye was used to decorate coffins and tombs as a symbol of
protection for the afterlife.
 The Eye of Horus was used during the mummification processed
and was place over the incision in which the organs were removed.
This insured that deceased would be healed and their organs
magically restored.

Show students how the Eye of Horus is broken down into fractions, and what
those fraction represent on Horus PowerPoint slide 8.
 The symbol was divided into six parts, representing the shattering
of Horus’ eye into six pieces.
 Each piece was associated with one of the six senses.

In pairs, have students identify and write down a theme that the Eye of Horus
symbolizes and why this theme is connected with this image.

Some themes that were discussed during the Horus PowerPoint include:
healing, health, protection, and power.
Guided
Practice:
(Group,
individual
feedback,
questions,
check
for
understanding)

Project image of the Eye of Horus from Horus PowerPoint slide 8; review
symbols on Horus.

The Eye of Horus has a very specific meaning; the eye is represented as
a figure in 6 parts. These parts correspond to the six senses-touch, taste,
hearing, thought, sights and smell. These are the six parts of the eye.

Instruct students to draw and identify the various elements of the Eye of Horus.
Independent Practice: (Practice in new context)

Based on what students have learned in class, instruct them to write a paragraph
in which they answer the following questions (Horus PowerPoint slide 10):

What is represented within the six sections of the eye?

What does the Eye of Horus mean as a whole symbol?

How was the Eye of Horus used by the ancient Egyptians?
INSPECT AND REFLECT: (Self-assessment, whole class review,
reflection, evaluation)

Students written responses can be used for assessing student’s retention of the
material.