Uraeus facts for kids
The Uraeus (say "Yoo-RAY-us") is a famous symbol from ancient Egypt. It looks like an Egyptian cobra standing upright, ready to strike. This powerful image was used to show royal power, kings and queens, and divine authority. It was a very important sign of who was in charge and who was protected by the gods.
The Uraeus: Ancient Egypt's Cobra Symbol
What the Uraeus Meant
The Uraeus was a special symbol for the goddess Wadjet. She was one of the oldest Egyptian goddesses. Wadjet was often shown as a cobra. Her main worship center was in a city called Per-Wadjet. Later, the Greeks called this city Buto. Wadjet became the protector of the Nile Delta and all of Lower Egypt.
Wadjet and Nekhbet: Protectors of Egypt
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When Egypt became one unified country, another goddess joined Wadjet. This was Nekhbet, who was shown as a white vulture. Nekhbet was the protector of Upper Egypt. Together, Wadjet and Nekhbet were known as the Two Ladies. They became the joint protectors of the unified Egypt.
Pharaohs and Divine Power
The pharaohs, who were the rulers of Egypt, wore the Uraeus on their heads. Sometimes it was a cobra body on top of the head. Other times, it was a crown with the cobra wrapped around it. This showed that Wadjet protected the pharaoh. It also made the pharaoh's claim to rule the land stronger. Wearing the Uraeus was a sign that the pharaoh was the true and rightful ruler. This tradition goes back to the Old Kingdom over 4,000 years ago.
Later, pharaohs were seen as being connected to the sun god Ra. People believed the Uraeus protected them by spitting fire at their enemies. This fire came from the fiery eye of the goddess. In some ancient stories, the eyes of Ra were even called uraei.
A Golden Discovery: Senusret II's Uraeus
In 1919, an amazing discovery was made. A worker named Hosni Ibrahim found a solid-gold Uraeus. This happened during a thorough search of the pyramid rooms of Senusret II at El-Lahun. The Golden Uraeus was found in the offering chamber, hidden under just six inches of debris.
Before the famous tomb of Tutankhamun was found in 1922, this Golden Uraeus was the only such ornament known from a buried pharaoh. It was thought that such a valuable item would be passed down to the next pharaoh.
This Golden Uraeus is made of solid gold and is about 6.7 centimeters (2.6 inches) tall. It has black eyes made of granite. The snake's head is made of deep blue lapis lazuli. Its flared cobra hood has dark red carnelian inlays and turquoise. It had two loops at the back to attach it to the pharaoh's crown.
The Uraeus in Writing and Art
Besides being worn by pharaohs or used on statues, the Uraeus was also used in jewellery and as amulets. Amulets were charms believed to bring good luck or protection.
Uraeus as a Hieroglyph
The Uraeus was also an important hieroglyph. Hieroglyphs were the pictures and symbols used in ancient Egyptian writing. The simplest hieroglyph was just the "Cobra" (the Uraeus). There were also more complex hieroglyphs that included the Uraeus to represent goddesses or shrines.
For example, the famous Rosetta Stone uses a plural form of a hieroglyph showing "god flag" symbols with a Cobra at the base of each flag. This was part of the text honoring the king and how the gods and goddesses rewarded him.
The Uraeus hieroglyph also appeared as decorations on symbols for "shrine" and "buildings."
Uraeus in Jewelry and Amulets
The Uraeus was a popular design for ancient Egyptian jewelry. People wore it as necklaces, bracelets, and other ornaments. It was also used in amulets, which were small charms believed to protect the wearer from harm or bring good fortune. These items often showed the cobra in its upright, protective pose.
The Blue Crown and the Uraeus
Before the New Kingdom period, the Uraeus was often seen coiled in circles behind its raised head on the Blue Crown. Pharaohs often wore the Blue Crown during battles or in scenes showing the aftermath of combat. It was also common for smaller statues of the king to show him wearing the Blue Crown when surrounded by protective deities.
The Uraeus on the Blue Crown was usually made from precious metals, like gold or sometimes silver. It was often decorated with beautiful gemstones. This emphasized the Uraeus's role in protecting the king, especially when he was in his human form.
Images for kids
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Duck and Hedjet
See also
- Deshret – Red Crown of Lower Egypt
- Hedjet – White Crown of Upper Egypt
- Pschent – Double Crown of Lower & Upper Egypt
- Atef – Hedjet Crown with feathers identified with Osiris
- Khepresh – Blue or War Crown also called Royal Crown
- Khat – head cloth worn by the nobility
- N-red crown (n hieroglyph)
- N-water ripple (n hieroglyph)
- Nekhbet – Woman or vulture wearing an Atef Crown
- Serpent symbolism
