uraeus

American  

[yoo-ree-uhs] / yʊˈri əs /

noun

plural

uraeuses

1. the sacred asp as represented upon the headdress of divinities and royal personages of ancient Egypt, usually directly over the forehead, as an emblem of supreme power.

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uraeus British  

/ jʊˈriːəs /

noun

1. the sacred serpent represented on the headdresses of ancient Egyptian kings and gods

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Etymology

Origin of uraeus

1825–35; < New Latin < Late Greek ouraîos, perhaps based ultimately on Egyptian yʿrt cobra, altered by association with Greek ouraîos of the tail; see uro- ²

Example Sentences

The human-headed uraeus is seldom bearded; and the best example of such a monster is on an Ethiopian temple, where a great uraeus has human arms and a lion's head.

From Egyptian Tales, Translated from the Papyri First series, IVth to XIIth dynasty by Petrie, W. M. Flinders (William Matthew Flinders), Sir

Where she had been appeared an old man, simply-clad, long-bearded, wise-faced, and wearing on his grey hair no crown save a plain band of gold, from the centre of which rose the snake-headed uraeus crest.

From Smith and the Pharaohs, and other Tales by Haggard, Henry Rider

Without doubt it was the uraeus, that symbol which only the royalties of Old Egypt dared to wear.

From A Yellow God: an Idol of Africa by Haggard, Henry Rider

O thou Cat, thy two eyes are the Eye of the Lord of the Khut uraeus, who illumineth the Two Lands with his Eye, and illumineth the face on the path of darkness.

From Legends of the Gods The Egyptian Texts, edited with Translations by Budge, E. A. Wallis (Ernest Alfred Wallis), Sir

The disk has an uraeus on each side.

From Legends of the Gods The Egyptian Texts, edited with Translations by Budge, E. A. Wallis (Ernest Alfred Wallis), Sir