Horus of Buto

Horus of Buto (also known as Horus the Behdetite or Horus of Pe) is a potent manifestation of the falcon god Horus, closely tied to the ancient northern city of Dendera (Per-Wadjet), one of Egypt’s oldest and most sacred cult centres. This revered Delta city, home to the cobra goddess Wadjet, guardian of Lower Egypt, was steeped in the divine symbolism of kingship and celestial protection.

In temple reliefs from the later periods, particularly under the Greco-Roman rulers, Horus of Buto appears in a striking form: lion-headed, radiant with solar ferocity.

This dramatic fusion of falcon and lion does not replace his traditional role but accentuates his wrathful, avenging aspect; aligning him with other fiery deities such as Sekhmet and Ra-Horakhty.

At sites like Edfu and Dendera, this leonine Horus is shown in vivid battle scenes, smiting the forces of chaos and foreign foes, his roaring presence a divine conflagration. Such imagery evokes not only his might in war, but his sacred duty as the blazing protector of Ma’at, striking down disorder with regal fury.

This powerful bronze statue, now housed in the Cincinnati Art Museum (1957.149), depicted Horus of Buto enthroned, with a commanding lion’s head crowned by a large uraeus cobra, symbolising divine kingship and the burning eye of the sun. This fierce visage connects him with other leonine deities like Sekhmet or Mahes, representing divine vengeance and protection.

In his right hand, the figure holds what appears to be a ritual implement or divine sceptre. Such statuary would likely have stood within temple sanctuaries or chapels, where it may have received offerings or formed part of ceremonial processions. The use of bronze, a sacred metal associated with eternity and divine power, reinforces its ritual significance.

Lion-Headed Deities

At first glance, lion-headed figures in Ancient Egyptian art are often hastily identified as Sekhmet, the fierce lioness goddess of plague and war. However, this assumption can be misleading, as several deities assumed leonine form, particularly during the Late Period (c. 664–332 B.C.), when religious iconography became increasingly complex and syncretic. The figure in question, though bearing the majestic lion’s head, is clearly male in anatomy; his broad chest and lack of feminine attributes mark him not as Sekhmet, but as Horus of Buto in his leonine guise.

Horus of Buto, in earlier periods, was typically shown as a falcon-headed youth or a side locked child, but from the Late Period onwards, he increasingly appeared in lion-headed form, embodying solar might and martial power. This transformation reflects a broader theological trend in which gods began to share attributes, forms, and even animal symbolism. Just as Horus could appear as a falcon, child, or lion, so too could other gods like Mahes, Tefnut, and even Shu adopt leonine features when expressing strength, vengeance, or protective force.

While the lion’s head remains a potent and arresting symbol, it is not the exclusive domain of Sekhmet. The statues of Horus of Buto, with masculine torsos and a lion’s mane, stand as a powerful reminder that Ancient Egyptian deities were not fixed in form, but fluid embodiments of divine aspects, shaped by region, time, and theological emphasis.