s during the Pre-Dynastic period. However Horus proper (Horus the Elder) most likely originated in the delta cities of Damanhur and Letopolis as the winged solar disc. The Hierakonopolis version of Horus was originally called Nekhen. However evidence from Nile cities is few and far between due to flooding prior to the building of the Aswan dam. So we have two main falcon gods, one from upper egypt and one from lower egypt, merged into one in the pre-dynastic and/or early old kingdom period. The Horus of kingship from the south and the solar Horus from the north.
Read more about the cities associated with Horus.
During the 2nd dynasty (2925-2790 BCE) Seth replaced Horus and instead of a Horus name kings had a Seth name. To the right is an example from King Peribsen, he was buried at Umm el-Ka'ab (Abydos). The King who followed him, Kha'sekhemui (The Two Powers Arise), had both on his serekh (see left) indicating that he resolved whatever issue had started the Seth-name stuff. He was the final king of the 2nd dynasty.Seth had a temple in Naqada (Nubt/Ombos) in Upper Egypt dated around 1500 BCE (New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty) and he is referred to in the Pyramid texts as Set of Nubet. The earliest depiction of Seth comes from the Naqada III period (Dynasty 00) in the Gebel Tjauty graffiti, found in the Desert west of Thebes (not very far from Naqada). The grafitti appears to relate a victory over the town of Naqada by King Scorpion of Abydos. Seth animals are also seen among the standards of his followers on his macehead found at Nekhen (also falcons, a jackal, and the god Min).
There is a mythic history of conflict between Horus and Seth but the origins of the myth are hard to find. Seth became villified during the 2nd intermediate period (15th dynasty, c1600 BCE) when the Hyksos invaded Egypt from western Asia and adopted Seth.
Ra of Heliopolis
Heliopolis (Iunu) in Lower Egypt had a solar hawk god called Ra who was known also as "RA HOR AKHT Y" ("RA, the HOR, or king, of the Two Horizons"). Ra and Horus appear very similar, they are both hawk headed, they are both heavenly rather than earthly deities. But Ra is predominantly solar, seen by the solar disk on his head, whereas Horus originates as a representation of kingship and is a sky rather than sun god. Ra is also very ancient, the ensign to the right is from 2925-2700 BCE in the 2nd Dynasty. From the 4th Dynasty kings become known as sons of Ra. Ra and Horus become Re-Horakhty (Re is Horus of the Horizon).
However the main cult city of Ra (Heliopolis) is very close to the main cult city of the original Horus the Elder (Letopolis/Khem). Were they the same God? Perhaps the original northern Ra/Horus/Khenty-irty split in two when he was fused with the northern Horus/Nekhen leaving behind Ra of Heliopolis with the solar attributes of the original deity.
The Palette of Narmer (3100-3000 BCE)
The Palette of Narmer was found in 1898 in the "main deposit" of the temple of Horus in Hierakonpolis. Most likely a commerative work of art celebrating the victory of Narmer (Menes) of Upper Egypt over Lower Egypt. It is believed that Narmer is King Menes, the 'mythical' unifier of Upper and Lower Egypt.
On the rear of the palette Narmer wears the White Crown of Upper Egypt (he wears the Red Crown of Lower Egypt on the front). He holds a captive representing the defeated army. In the top right corner we see a glyph of the larger image; the Horus bird represents King Narmer perched over the papyrus plants representing Lower Egypt holding the head of his enemy. At the top of the palette we see two cows heads representing the Goddess Hathor.
Horus was the divine King, the King was Horus and one of his names (he had five) was known as his Horus name. Hathor was the protector of the King, her name means House of Horus.
Gold Head of Nekheny
A large ceremonial center was excavated out on the low desert near Hierakonpolis, which dates back to early Naqada II (Dynasty 0). Situated in the southern portion of the city enclosure of Nekhen stood the great temple to the city's falcon god, Nekheny or Th