The falcon had been a sacred animal for a number of cults, such as those of the god Montu and the god Ra. Most prominently, its predatory character and strength of its flight made this bird a zoomorphic representation of the deity associated with the living pharaoh, Horus. With his parents, Osiris and Isis, Horus formed one of the most important divine triad closely connected to the royal cult. There were falcon cults all across Egypt, with the most spectacular discovered at Saqqara, where many thousands of birds were mummified and buried in an extensive complex of animal necropolises.
To discover more about amulets in the Ancient Egyptian world, please visit our relevant post: Amulets in Ancient Egypt.
