About the Author

D. E. McElroy is an ordained minister and the founder of World Christianship Ministries (WCM). For over four decades he has helped people answer their call to serve, and in his early years officiated thousands of wedding ceremonies across California. Ed curates one of the web’s longest-running Near-Death Experience (NDE) resources, featuring over one hundred hand-picked testimonies and links to thousands more. His writing brings together Spiritual Christianity, NDE insights, and the wisdom of ancient traditions to help seekers find compassion, clarity, and courage.

Copyright

© 2025 D. E. McElroy · World Christianship Ministries. All rights reserved.

You are welcome to share brief excerpts with attribution and a link back to WCM. For reprints or quotations beyond fair use, please request permission.

Chapter 1 — Horus in Ancient Egypt (Refined Edition)

The falcon rises at dawn, wings spread across the horizon. To the ancient Egyptians, this sight was not merely natural—it was divine. In that soaring bird, they saw Horus, the guardian of kingship, the avenger of his father, and the living embodiment of cosmic order.

Horus stands as one of the most enduring and multifaceted deities of ancient Egypt. His myth is a story of tragedy, concealment, struggle, healing, and triumph. To understand Horus is to glimpse the Egyptian vision of the universe: a fragile balance between order (Ma’at) and chaos (Isfet), guarded by a divine son who ensures truth and justice endure.

1) Horus: The Divine Heir

Lineage. Horus is the son of Isis, the great magician and mother, and Osiris, the just king murdered by his brother Set. Conceived after Isis reassembled and revived Osiris, Horus was born as both miracle and hope: the avenger destined to restore balance.

Forms of Horus. Egyptian tradition speaks of several manifestations:

• Horus the Elder (Haroeris): A primordial falcon sky-god whose eyes embody the sun and moon.
• Horus the Child (Harpocrates): The young, finger-to-mouth son hidden in the marshes, symbolizing innocence and divine protection.
• Ra-Horakhty: A later fusion of Ra and Horus, representing the daily journey of the sun across the sky.

2) The Mythic Drama

1. Murder of Osiris. Set, embodiment of disorder, slays his brother Osiris. Isis, in grief and determination, revives Osiris long enough to conceive Horus.
2. Hidden Childhood. Isis hides the infant Horus in the papyrus marshes to protect him from Set’s malice. Here, spells guarded him against serpents, scorpions, and wild beasts.
3. The Contendings. Grown to strength, Horus confronts Set in a long series of contests. They wrestle, race boats, argue before divine tribunals, and engage in fierce battles. In one struggle, Horus’s eye is injured, later restored—an event central to Egyptian symbolism.
4. Restoration of Ma’at. Eventually Horus triumphs, reclaiming Osiris’s throne and restoring truth and order. Set is subdued, exiled to the desert, or bound into service aboard Ra’s solar barque, depending on the tradition.

The myth teaches: though chaos disrupts, rightful order can be restored through courage, justice, and divine balance.

3) Horus and the Pharaoh

Pharaohs were seen as the living Horus. Each ruler, upon enthronement, took a Horus-name—proclaiming himself the earthly embodiment of the falcon god. At death, the king became Osiris, and the successor rose as Horus, continuing the sacred cycle.

Symbols of Kingship:

• The Horus falcon perched upon the serekh (palace façade) announces royal identity.
• The Double Crown (Red and White united) expresses Horus’s dominion over Upper and Lower Egypt.
• Smite scenes—pharaoh striking down enemies—symbolize Horus defeating Set, not mere conquest but the triumph of order.

4) Sacred Places of Horus

• Nekhen (Hierakonpolis): Early center of Horus worship, tied to Egypt’s earliest kingship.
• Edfu (Behdet): Home of the great Ptolemaic temple; its inscriptions dramatize Horus’s victory over Set as a hippopotamus.
• Letopolis and other falcon cults: Communities raised and honored live falcons as images of Horus, mummifying them as offerings of devotion.

5) Symbols and Iconography

• The Falcon: Horus is most often a falcon or falcon-headed man, crowned, grasping the ankh (life) and was-scepter (power).
• The Eye of Horus (Wedjat): Restored after injury, it became a symbol of healing, wholeness, and protection. Egyptians wore amulets, painted it on ships for safe passage, and placed it on coffins to guard the dead.
• Sky Imagery: In hymns, Horus is the sky itself—his right eye the sun, his left eye the moon, his wings spanning the heavens.

6) Horus, Ma’at, and the Balance of the World

For Egyptians, Horus’s triumph is not just myth—it is theology. His victory restores Ma’at, the cosmic harmony that keeps Nile, sun, and seasons in rhythm. When Horus rules, truth is upheld, harvests thrive, and enemies are held at bay.

Set, while necessary as a force of disruption, becomes dangerous when unchecked. In the Osiris cycle, he crosses the line into betrayal, symbolizing the chaos (Isfet) that must be restrained for the world to endure.

7) Worship and Devotion

• Temple Rituals: Priests daily offered bread, beer, incense, and hymns to statues of Horus, awakening the god to maintain balance.
• Festivals at Edfu: Pilgrims re-enacted Horus’s victory, hunting a hippopotamus as Set’s form, and celebrating Horus’s marriage to Hathor, goddess of love and joy.
• Household Piety: Mothers prayed to Isis and Horus for their children’s protection; sailors painted Horus’s eye on boats; farmers wore amulets for health and prosperity.

8) Legacy of Horus

For millennia, Egyptians lifted their eyes to the falcon of the horizon, seeing in him a savior who restores what is broken. The beloved image of Isis nursing infant Horus spread widely, shaping later devotional art. It is this tender image—mother and divine child—that would echo across cultures and eras.

Key Takeaways

• Horus embodies the divine child, hidden savior, and rightful heir who restores order after chaos.
• Pharaohs as living Horus tied kingship to cosmic truth.
• The Eye of Horus became one of the most powerful symbols of protection and healing in Egypt.
• Horus’s story established archetypal patterns—miraculous birth, hidden childhood, struggle with evil, triumph restoring order—that would later echo in other traditions, including Christianity.

Chapter 2 — Jesus of Nazareth

In the hill country of Judea, a child was born to a young woman of faith. Like Horus before him, this child was proclaimed destined—his life would embody divine truth, confront darkness, and offer hope of restoration. His name was Yeshua, known to the world as Jesus.

1) Birth and Early Life

Virgin Birth. According to Christian tradition, Jesus was conceived through the Holy Spirit, born of Mary, a humble woman chosen for her devotion. This miraculous birth became a cornerstone of faith, echoing ancient archetypes of divine sons born under extraordinary circumstances.

Child in Danger. As Horus was hidden from Set, Jesus too faced early threats. King Herod, fearing prophecy of a new king, sought to kill him. His family fled to Egypt—ironically the land of Horus—for safety until Herod’s death.

Hidden Years. The Gospels say little about Jesus’s childhood and youth. This silence left space for later traditions and legends about travels, teachings, and preparation for his public mission.

2) Public Ministry

Baptism. Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, marking the start of his mission. The heavens opened, and he was proclaimed the beloved Son of God—parallel to Horus being affirmed as rightful heir before the tribunal of gods.

Disciples. Jesus gathered twelve close followers, echoing the divine teacher surrounded by companions in Egyptian and Mediterranean traditions. They witnessed his miracles, learned his teachings, and would later spread his message.

Teachings. His words centered on love, forgiveness, the Kingdom of God, and the reversal of worldly power. He spoke in parables—simple stories with profound truths—about seeds, vineyards, banquets, and lost sons.

Miracles. Like Horus healing the sick and driving away harm, Jesus healed the blind, cured lepers, exorcised spirits, and raised the dead. These acts were signs of divine authority and compassion.

3) Conflict with Darkness

Temptation. After baptism, Jesus fasted in the wilderness and faced Satan’s temptations. Just as Horus contended with Set, Jesus resisted the deceiver, affirming truth over chaos.

Opposition. Jesus’s challenges to religious elites and imperial authority brought conflict. His message of spiritual liberation clashed with worldly systems, echoing Horus’s struggle for rightful order.

4) Death and Resurrection

Crucifixion. Betrayed and condemned, Jesus was executed on a Roman cross. To his followers, this was both tragedy and fulfillment—his willing sacrifice for humanity’s redemption.

Burial and Resurrection. On the third day, the tomb was found empty. Appearances to his followers affirmed that he lived again. This resurrection became the heart of Christian faith, parallel in theme to the triumph of Horus and the restoration of Osiris.

Ascension. Jesus ascended to sit at the right hand of God, reigning as cosmic king—titles long applied to Horus in Egypt and later adopted for Christ.

5) Jesus and the Archetype of the Divine Son

• Miraculous birth through divine agency.
• Threatened childhood but preserved for his mission.
• Healer and teacher surrounded by chosen followers.
• Struggle with evil forces seeking to usurp truth.
• Sacrifice and triumph through death and renewed life.

Yet, Jesus is distinct. Unlike Horus, whose story unfolded in symbolic myth, Jesus is rooted in history and presented by his followers as a living person whose deeds, words, and resurrection changed lives in real time.

6) The Church’s Shaping of the Narrative

Early followers remembered Jesus in diverse ways. Over centuries, as Christianity grew under Roman and later Catholic authority, his story was emphasized in ways that echoed existing religious motifs. The Virgin and Child, the divine healer, the triumphant king—these were not accidental; they spoke to archetypes already deep in human memory, familiar from Horus and other ancient gods.

This does not make Jesus a copy, but rather shows how early Christians expressed his life in forms their world understood, allowing his message to spread rapidly across the empire.

Key Takeaways

• Jesus’s life story carries archetypal motifs—divine son, threatened child, healer, teacher, sacrifice, and resurrection—that resonate with earlier mythologies, including Horus.
• His uniqueness lies in being remembered as both historical person and universal savior.
• Catholic tradition later amplified elements (virgin birth, resurrection, cosmic kingship) that aligned Jesus with ancient archetypes, helping Christianity take root across cultures.

Chapter 3 — Archetypal Parallels Between Horus and Jesus

Across the Nile temples and the hills of Judea, two stories unfold—separated by centuries, yet bound by patterns of divine sonship, struggle, and triumph. By placing Horus and Jesus side by side, we see archetypes emerge: symbols of hope, justice, and eternal life that transcend culture.

1) Birth and Origins

• Horus: Conceived by Isis after the miraculous reconstitution of Osiris, Horus’s birth is both divine and restorative. He is the child of promise, born to avenge and heal.
• Jesus: Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, Jesus’s birth is hailed as miraculous, the fulfillment of prophecy, and a sign of God dwelling among humankind.

Parallel: Both are born under extraordinary circumstances, their mothers revered as holy figures, and both births are understood as divine interventions in human history.

2) Threatened Childhoods

• Horus: Hidden in the papyrus marshes, guarded by Isis’s magic from Set’s attempts to kill him.
• Jesus: Hidden in Egypt when Herod sought to kill infants in Bethlehem.

Parallel: Both children are pursued by destructive forces and must be protected until their mission begins.

3) Roles and Titles

• Horus: Known as “Son of God,” “Lord of the Two Lands,” “Good Shepherd,” and “Avenger of his Father.”
• Jesus: Called “Son of God,” “King of Kings,” “Good Shepherd,” and “Son of Man.”

Parallel: The exalted titles highlight both figures as divine rulers, protectors, and restorers of justice.

4) Public Mission and Followers

• Horus: Accompanied by groups of followers in ritual dramas; protector of the land, healer, and defender against Set.
• Jesus: Traveled with twelve disciples, teaching, healing the sick, casting out demons, and proclaiming God’s Kingdom.

Parallel: Both are leaders surrounded by companions, remembered for acts of healing and restoration.

5) Confrontation with Evil

• Horus: Battles Set in contests that symbolize the cosmic struggle between order (Ma’at) and chaos (Isfet).
• Jesus: Tempted by Satan in the wilderness, opposed by dark powers, and confronts evil through healing, teaching, and ultimately through sacrifice.

Parallel: Both figures represent light overcoming darkness, truth defeating falsehood.

6) Death, Resurrection, and Triumph

• Horus: His eye is damaged in battle, later restored—the Wedjat becomes the symbol of healing and wholeness. In avenging Osiris and being affirmed as king, he brings resurrection themes of renewal.
• Jesus: Crucified, buried, and resurrected on the third day. His triumph over death offers eternal life to believers.

Parallel: Both embody the pattern of suffering, restoration, and triumph, offering healing and renewal beyond death.

7) Sacred Symbols

• Horus: The Eye of Horus—protection, healing, completeness.
• Jesus: The Cross—sacrifice, redemption, eternal life.

Parallel: Both symbols became protective and devotional emblems worn, displayed, and venerated for centuries.

8) Archetypal Lessons

• The Divine Child: Both Horus and Jesus embody innocence preserved for a great destiny.
• The Hidden Savior: Both evade death in youth, signaling their lives are destined for higher purpose.
• The Healer: Both perform acts of healing, linking divinity with compassion.
• The Victor over Evil: Both struggle with forces of chaos and prevail.
• The Restorer of Order: Horus restores Ma’at, Jesus restores right relationship with God.
• The Triumphant King: Both reign—Horus over Egypt’s throne, Jesus over heaven’s kingdom.

Key Takeaways

• The parallels between Horus and Jesus reflect recurring archetypes—universal patterns humanity uses to describe salvation and divine truth.
• While Horus emerges in the mythic cycles of Egypt and Jesus in the historical setting of Judea, both stories resonate with themes of hope, justice, and cosmic renewal.
• Recognizing these parallels does not diminish Jesus’s uniqueness, but shows how his story tapped into ancient symbols already deeply embedded in the human spirit.

Chapter 4 — Differences and Nuances

While parallels between Horus and Jesus are striking, careful study shows that their stories are not identical. Each belongs to its own cultural world, shaped by different purposes, settings, and visions of the divine. To see both clearly, we must respect the differences as well as the similarities.

1) Myth vs. History

• Horus: A mythological figure rooted in cycles of divine struggle, enacted in temples and rituals.
• Jesus: A historical person in Judea under Roman rule, remembered through gospels and communities.

2) Cultural Purpose

• Horus: Embodied the ideal of Egyptian kingship and cosmic order.
• Jesus: Embodied spiritual liberation, compassion, and justice for the marginalized.

3) Nature of Victory

• Horus: Triumph through contests and divine judgment, restoring rightful kingship.
• Jesus: Triumph through the cross—apparent defeat transformed into victory over death.

4) Relationship to Death and Resurrection

• Horus: Eye injured and restored; father Osiris resurrected as lord of the underworld.
• Jesus: Personally dies, is buried, and resurrected; central to Christian faith.

5) Symbols of Devotion

• Horus: Eye of Horus (protection, healing, wholeness).
• Jesus: Cross (sacrifice, redemption, eternal life).

6) Theological Context

• Horus: Polytheistic pantheon with cyclical myth.
• Jesus: Emerges from Jewish monotheism; unique Son of the one God.

7) Audience and Transmission

• Horus: Known through hymns, inscriptions, ritual performance.
• Jesus: Known through oral tradition quickly committed to writing and mission.

Key Takeaways

• Horus symbolizes mythic kingship and cosmic order.
• Jesus is presented as a historical-spiritual figure whose resurrection has universal implications.
• Both share the divine son motif, but their contexts, aims, and legacies diverge.

Chapter 5 — The Catholic Blueprint Question

If Horus’s story echoes in the life of Jesus, the question arises: did the Catholic Church consciously use Horus and other ancient myths as a blueprint for portraying Christ? The answer is complex—part history, part psychology, and part cultural adaptation.

1) The Cultural Crossroads of Alexandria

By the time of Jesus, Alexandria in Egypt was one of the greatest centers of learning and religion in the Mediterranean world. Greek philosophy, Roman governance, Jewish traditions, and Egyptian mythology mingled there. The myths of Horus, Osiris, and Isis were still alive.

2) Archetypes and Conversion

Early Christianity spread in a world filled with stories of dying and rising gods and divine sons. Presenting Jesus in familiar terms helped converts grasp his significance.

• Virgin and Child: The image of Isis nursing Horus resonated with the Christian Madonna and Child.
• Titles and Roles: Son of God, Savior, King of Kings—familiar honorifics applied anew to Christ.
• Resurrection Motifs: Themes of death and renewed life spoke to universal hopes.

3) Did the Church “Copy” Horus?

Direct copying? No firm evidence. Cultural adaptation? Very likely. Early Christians framed Jesus in ways that connected with existing beliefs; later the Catholic Church emphasized elements that fit universal archetypes.

4) Archetypes Across Cultures

• The Divine Child who brings hope.
• The Mother and Child devotion.
• The Struggle with Darkness motif.
• The Victor and Healer who restores order and life.

5) The Catholic Church’s Role

• Canonizing the Virgin Birth in creeds.
• Centering the Resurrection in proclamation.
• Enshrining Cosmic Kingship in art and liturgy.

Key Takeaways

• Early Christianity arose where Horus and similar myths were well known.
• The Church adapted familiar archetypes rather than copying.
• These adaptations helped Christianity speak to universal human longing.

Chapter 6 — Archetypes of the Divine Son

From the Nile to the Ganges, from the hills of Greece to the plains of Mesopotamia, humanity has told stories of the Divine Son. Horus and Jesus stand among them, but they are not alone.

1) The Universal Pattern

• Miraculous Births
• Threatened Infancy
• Hidden Childhoods
• Healers and Teachers
• Struggle with Evil
• Death and Renewal

2) Examples Beyond Egypt and Judea

• Osiris (Egypt)
• Dionysus (Greece)
• Mithras (Persia/Rome)
• Krishna (India)
• Buddha (India) (distinct, but the world-transforming child motif appears)

3) Archetypal Functions

• Embodiment of Hope
• Moral Compass
• Bridge to the Divine
• Conqueror of Death

4) Psychological Insights

Following Jungian thought, these figures reflect archetypes of the collective unconscious—our desire for wholeness, redemption, and transformation.

5) Horus and Jesus in the Larger Context

• Horus: kingship, cosmic order, victory over chaos.
• Jesus: personal transformation, love, spiritual liberation.

Key Takeaways

• The Divine Son archetype appears worldwide.
• Horus and Jesus exemplify it in different cultural expressions.
• Recognizing these patterns deepens appreciation for both.

Chapter 7 — What This Means for Spiritual Seekers

To see Horus and Jesus side by side is not only an exercise in history; it is a mirror for the soul.

1) Beyond Dogma

Parallels across cultures reveal a deeper truth: the human spirit continually seeks expressions of hope and transcendence.

2) The Power of Archetypes

Mother and child, healer and restorer, light against darkness—these speak to something timeless within us.

3) Deepening Faith, Not Weakening It

Seeing Jesus as part of a universal archetype can deepen, not diminish, faith.

4) Embracing Universal Wisdom

• Egyptian hymns praising Horus as healer and protector.
• Christian gospels portraying Jesus as redeemer and teacher.
• Indian scriptures, Buddhist sutras—wisdom across traditions.

5) The Invitation to Transformation

• Nurture innocence and wonder.
• Resist fear and chaos.
• Heal wounds; live in truth and justice.
• Hope in renewal beyond suffering and death.

Key Takeaways

• Parallels invite seekers beyond rigid dogma into universal wisdom.
• Every person carries the potential of the divine son archetype.

Chapter 8 — Appendix and Comparison Chart

Supporting materials for study and reflection: a concise chart, selected texts, and suggested readings.

1) Horus and Jesus Side-by-Side

2) Selected Ancient Texts

From Egyptian Hymns

• “Hail to you, Horus, son of Isis, the great protector, who restores what was torn apart, who heals the sick and drives away harm.”
• “The Wedjat Eye is whole, the land is safe, Ma’at is restored.”

From Christian Scriptures

• “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12)
• “I am the good shepherd.” (John 10:11)
• “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:54)

3) Suggested Readings

• Egyptian Texts: The Pyramid Texts, Coffin Texts, The Book of the Dead (in translation).
• Comparative Studies: Mircea Eliade, Patterns in Comparative Religion; other reputable comparative religion sources.
• Christian Sources: The four canonical gospels; selected apocrypha.

4) Closing Note

The appendix equips seekers to explore further. Parallels are meaningful; differences are vital. Together, they reveal how deeply humans have sought hope, justice, and eternal life.

Chapter 9 — Closing Reflection

At the dawn of civilization, Egyptians lifted their eyes to the falcon Horus. Centuries later, followers of Jesus lifted their eyes to a cross. Different lands, different tongues, yet the same longing: that truth would prevail, chaos be subdued, and life rise from death.

1) What We Have Seen

We traced the story of Horus—divine child, protector, restorer of Ma’at—and the life of Jesus—teacher, healer, redeemer. Side by side, we found archetypal parallels that emerge wherever humanity seeks meaning.

2) What Sets Them Apart

Horus belongs to mythic cycles of Egypt; Jesus to history in Judea. Their differences matter as much as their similarities.

3) The Larger Tapestry

Horus and Jesus are threads in a vast tapestry of savior figures. Recognizing this enriches faith by showing how truth exceeds any single tradition.

4) An Invitation to the Seeker

Seek truth wherever it appears. Honor wisdom across traditions. Heal what is broken. Live in truth and hope.

5) Final Thought

The falcon on the horizon and the cross on the hill point to the same promise: light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.