Anti The Falcon God
Introduction
The Falcon God, also known as Horus, is one of the most iconic and important deities in ancient Egyptian mythology. As the god of the sky, kingship, and protection, Horus was worshipped by the ancient Egyptians for centuries. However, there are some individuals who held opposing beliefs regarding the worship of Horus and his status as a god in ancient Egypt.
Worship
One group that rejected the worship of Horus were the followers of the deity Set, also known as Seth. Set was the god of chaos, violence, and storms, and was often depicted as a fierce and malevolent figure with the head of an animal that resembled a combination of a donkey and a canine. Set was considered to be a rival of Horus, as the two gods were said to have engaged in a fierce battle for the throne of Egypt. According to myth, Horus and Set fought for eighty years, with Horus ultimately emerging victorious and becoming the ruler of Egypt. Set was cast out and demonized as a symbol of evil and chaos.
Alternative Beliefs Within Egyptian Society
The followers of Set believed that their god was the true ruler of Egypt, and that Horus was an illegitimate usurper. They viewed Horus as a false deity who had stolen the throne from Set through treachery and deceit. The followers of Set also believed that Horus and his worshippers were corrupt and immoral, and that they practiced rituals and ceremonies that were offensive to the true gods of Egypt.
The opposition to the worship of Horus and the Falcon God was not limited to the followers of Set. There were also individuals within Egyptian society who rejected the traditional religious beliefs and practices of the time, including the worship of Horus. These individuals often belonged to fringe groups or sects that espoused radical or alternative beliefs that were considered heretical by mainstream society.
Akhenaten and the Cult of Aten
One such group was the cult of Aten, which rose to prominence during the reign of the pharaoh Akhenaten in the 14th century BC. Akhenaten rejected the traditional polytheistic religion of ancient Egypt and instead promoted the worship of the sun disc, Aten, as the supreme deity. He ordered the closure of the temples dedicated to the traditional gods, including Horus, and sought to establish a monotheistic religion centered around the worship of Aten.
The cult of Aten was met with strong opposition from the followers of the traditional gods, including Horus. They viewed Akhenaten as a heretic and a blasphemer who sought to undermine the traditional religious beliefs and practices of Egypt. The followers of Horus saw the cult of Aten as a threat to their own beliefs and sought to resist and counteract the influence of the new religion.
Despite the opposition and persecution faced by those who rejected the worship of Horus, there were individuals who remained steadfast in their beliefs and continued to resist the dominant religious practices of ancient Egypt. These individuals often faced social ostracism, persecution, and even death for their beliefs, but they remained committed to their convictions and refused to abandon their faith in the face of adversity.
In conclusion,
the worship of the Falcon God, Horus, was a central aspect of ancient Egyptian religion and culture. However, there were individuals and groups who rejected the worship of Horus and held opposing beliefs regarding the status of the god in Egyptian society. These dissenters faced opposition and persecution for their beliefs, but they remained steadfast in their convictions and sought to resist and counteract the dominant religious practices of the time. The opposition to the worship of Horus serves as a reminder of the diversity and complexity of ancient Egyptian religious beliefs and practices.
