Horus vs. Set: The War of the Gods
The battle between Horus and Set is the concluding conflict of a multigenerational saga that’s rich with rivalry, cunning, and a quest for justice. But it isn’t simply the tale of godly combat but rather the essence of what these deities symbolized and the profound impact their conflict had on the cultural fabric of ancient Egyptian society, offering us a window into the ancient Egyptians' worldview, their values, and the cosmic balance they sought to maintain through their myths and deities. Today, we’ll discuss this epic tale and how it was depicted in the YA fantasy novel, Treasures of Egypt: The Spear & the Scythe.
The Characters
Within the pantheon of Egyptian gods, Horus stood as a beacon of kingship. His depiction, a blend of a falcon's features and a man's physique, crowned with the unified regalia of Upper and Lower Egypt, symbolized the nation's unity and strength. Horus embodied the ideal ruler's qualities—bravery, wisdom, and the protective fervor of a falcon watching over its domain.
Set, in stark contrast, was the embodiment of tumult, the desert's barren expanse, and the tempest's fury. His portrayal as a being with an unidentifiable animal head—often referred to as a Sha or a Set animal—served as a symbol of his enigmatic and unpredictable nature. Set's realm was that of the untamed, the chaotic, where the familiar order of life gave way to the unpredictable whirlwind of the unknown. He was a figure of contention, often associated with the darker aspects of existence—conflict, upheaval, and the perpetual challenge to the established order.
The Conflict
The conflict between Horus and Set is not depicted as a simple skirmish between deities but as a cosmic duel between the forces of order and chaos. This part of the overall saga—Set vs. the legitimate royal family—takes place following the treacherous murder of Osiris, Horus's father, at the hands of Set. Horus's quest for vengeance and his pursuit of his rightful throne as Egypt's ruler laid the foundation for a series of cataclysmic confrontations. These confrontations manifested in different manners from mystical battles that spanned the realms of gods and men to battles of wits and magical prowess. One notable tale recounts a cunning ruse involving a boat race, where Set's deceitful tactic of a stone boat was countered by Horus's strategic use of a wooden vessel disguised as stone. There was also the lettuce incident. We don’t talk about the lettuce incident. Google it but be warned, you won’t be able to delete the information from your head. Overall, these tales served the purpose of highlighting the cunning and resourcefulness that characterized their epic confrontations
The Resolution
The struggle between Horus and Set reached its zenith before the assembly of the gods, a divine court of sorts which after some courtroom drama that we will ignore to keep this article family-friendly (the lettuce incident) the gods' verdict was in favor of Horus which was seen as a triumph of one god over another but also a reaffirmation of the cosmic order.
Horus's victory and his ascension to the throne of Egypt were symbolic of the restoration of balance and harmony to the land, a renewal of the principles of justice, order, and rightful governance. This resolution underscored the ancient Egyptian belief in the moral order of the universe and the essential role of a just ruler in maintaining the balance between the forces of order and chaos.
Horus vs. Set in Treasures of Egypt
This includes light world-building spoilers, so consider this a warning if you’d prefer to avoid them!
Even though it isn't directly shown in Treasures of Egypt: The Spear & the Scythe, the battle between Horus and Set is referenced several times as "the ancient war of the gods," and its effects are still very much present. The key distinction between fiction and mythology in this context is Set's fate after his defeat. In Treasures of Egypt, Set is shackled by Horus in the Desolated City of Abydos, a fantastical rendition of the real-world city, which serves as Set's prison in Duat. Furthermore, Set loses his divine weapon, a spear-scythe hybrid, hence the novel’s subtitle. Horus splits the weapon into two parts: the Scythe remains in Abydos with Set, and the Spear ends up in the real world. As mentioned in the story's blurb, Treasures of Egypt's inciting incident occurs when Nefiri Minu, our protagonist, touches Set's spear. This act awakens the god from his deep slumber and sets off the novel's events.
Conclusion
The ancient Egyptians valued order and stability above all else and the tale of Horus vs. Set is a perfect example of that belief. In most mythology, such an epic saga would end with the rightful heir emerging victorious from a glorious battle to reclaim his father’s throne. Not in Egypt. Justice was served through legal means while the battles between Horus and Set didn’t lead to any resolution.
Ultimately, this mythological narrative was a reflection of the ancient Egyptians’ deep-seated beliefs in justice, the importance of rightful leadership, and the perpetual tension between order and chaos that governs the cosmos. It served as a reminder of the ever-present battle between good and evil, the necessity of vigilant leadership, and the unending quest for harmony in the face of life's inherent uncertainties.
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