NAVIGATION

The Falcon or Hawk was one of a number of birds considered sacred by the ancient Egyptians. Regarded as the God of the Sky, and as the ‘BA’ or physical manifestation of Horus, the Hawk headed God, who was the embodiment of divine kingship. The Horus Falcon was the guardian deity and protector of the reigning pharaoh, and is frequently depicted with its wings protectively outstretched behind the head of the King.
During the late period at Saqqara there was a catacomb specifically constructed for mummified hawks sacred to Horus and examination of some of these mummies has shown them to comprise a number of different types of birds of prey.