HERU-UR AND SETH
 Continuing with the theme presented in the previous article, about war between the light and the darkness, there are two particular gods who personify it in both "Stargate SG-1" and mythology: Heru-ur (also known as Horus, the falcon-headed deity) and Seth. Though they have received very little time in their appearances in the television series, their importance in this theme defines typical Goa'uld traits and the conflict in the series. That is, the war is not just with the humans of Earth.
For the god Heru-ur, many things can be said about him and they will be addressed in a later article. This falcon-headed deity was regarded as an agent of the light (i.e. he faithfully served Ra), a warrior (a commander), and a protector of the dead.1 For the latter title, he sought to avenge the death of his father Osiris (Seth dismembered him)2
and he often led Ra's army into battle against the forces of darkness (the night)3. As a soldier, he preferred an hour of combat to a day of feasting, and he looked forward to battle with glee4. His glory came in the battlefield.
As a Goa'uld, Heru-ur enters into the scene in the episode "Thor's Chariot." While SG-1 thwarts his plans to establish a foothold on the planet Cimmeria, he returns as an agent of the light, staying to the legendary roots by combating the forces of darkness that Apophis' legions represent. Also, to further complicate things, he is blamed in the kidnapping of Apophis' child.
Though he was a passing reference in "Pretense," Heru-ur is the instigator of the events of the episode. Hypothetically, it's possible to consider that he brought Skaara "into the light." The boy wishes freedom from the darkness, the Goa'uld Klorel, that binds him.
 For Seth, there is a historical fact on why he and Horus are at odds with one another. The worship of Seth in Upper Egypt was very ancient and he was considered a benevolent god at an early period. It wasn't until later, when his worshippers came into political conflict with the cult of Horus that Seth became the deity representing evil and commanding the forces of darkness. Early Christians tagged this deity as "the adversary" - a Satan figure and a typical Goa'uld trait.
Comparable to Milton's version of that devil in "Paradise Lost," Seth is equally complex for the role he serves in Egyptian mythology; he was a necessary force of evil living throughout time and on Earth. He was an eternal - a presence that could not die but be frequently hurt if needed. In that sense, he represented a necessary component of human behavior; the Egyptians believed the universe was made up of a duality - of good and evil (i.e. light and darkness)5. Much like Apophis of legend, these two are necessary forces of the universe. Seth was known as the god of chaos, embodiment of hostility and downright evil.6
In that sense, Seth is an appropriate choice to make into a Goa'uld. Inappropriate to legendary definition, he was given the web page header of God of Darkness in the self-titled episode, "Seth." The designation is apt when associated with the theme of the series, but digresses in the mythical role that Apophis had copyright to. As an adversary, the title does not just belong to Seth, but to the entire Goa'uld race. They are adversarial to the core.
While Daniel Jackson gave an accurate overview of the mythical Seth, the survival of the cult into modern times was, of course, fictionalized. Sadly, nothing is said about the conflict between him and Heru-ur. The information database (presumably a Web site) Jackson was reading quickly scrolled that information to the viewer just to round out his mythical definition.
In the myth that spawned from history, Heru-ur and Seth were related (Heru-ur was the nephew of Seth) and bitter enemies. The falcon god was out to avenge his father's murder (Osiris) and he attempted to regain control of the territories that Seth had overtaken. Their battles were bloody and magical (they would transform into animals as part of the subterfuge), often including the dismemberment of a body part.
Over a span of many years, Heru-ur would finally achieve his goal. However this myth did not directly carry forth into the series.
 Although the potential exists, it has not been revealed that the Goa'uld Heru-ur and Seth are adversaries. Instead, like the myth, the Goa'uld fight over territory. Also, familial conflicts exist. The most notable is that Hathor (mother of Heru-ur) operates on her own accord, without Heru-ur's direct help. She had to "steal" her own son and Apophis' own soldiers and was once the wife of Ra. No explanation has been given to why she separated from the sun god. (Even Cronus' fatherly relation to Sokar is broken, because Sokar has been banished from the System Lord hierarchy.)
Hopefully in future episodes of "Stargate SG-1," the Goa'uld war with earth and conflict between the Goa'uld will become more heated and interesting. Heru-ur's potential has not been realized and with the theories presented here, to liberate him and truly make him an agent of light would make for an interesting turn of events for the Earth-Goa'uld war. To have a true warrior serve Earth's purpose would definitely turn the tide of battle.
Sadly, Seth was killed in his only appearance and his potential not realized. However, if the writers can take an idea from the StarGate novels by Bill McCay, it is possible to have another Goa'uld take the title of Seth. Should he and Apophis join legions, then the story would turn into the epic that the myths had foretold.
FOOTNOTES
1. Armour, Robert. Gods and Myths of Ancient Egypt, p. 89-97
2. As chronicled in the Isis and Osiris myth - http://www.pantheon.org/mythica/articles/i/isis.html
3. Budge, E.A. Wallis. The Egyptian Book of the Dead, cxiv
4. Armour, Robert. Gods and Myths of Ancient Egypt, p. 99
5. Armour, Robert. Gods and Myths of Ancient Egypt, p. 52
6. http://www.pantheon.org/mythica/articles/s/seth.html
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