Winged sun

In early Egyptian religion, the symbol Behdety represented Horus of Edfu, later identified with Ra-Horakhty. It is sometimes depicted on the neck of Apis, the bull of Ptah. As time passed (according to interpretation) all of the subordinated gods of Egypt were considered to be aspects of the sun god, including Khepri. The name "Behdety" means the inhabitant of Behdet.[1]

He was the sky god of the region called Behdet in the Nile basin.[2]

His image was first found in the inscription on a comb's body, as a winged solar panel. The period of the comb is about 3000 BC. Such winged solar panels were later found in the funeral picture of Pharaoh Sahure of the fifth dynasty. Behdety is seen as the protector of Pharaoh. On both sides of his picture are seen the Uraeus, which a symbol for the cobra headed goddess Wadjet.[2]

He resisted the intense heat of Egyptian sun with his two wings.[2]

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  Pyramidion of Amenemhat III from the Black Pyramid, Twelfth Dynasty. Egyptian Museum, Cairo
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  The winged sun on the ceiling to the entrance to the temple of Ramses III
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  Heru-Behdeti ("Horus of Behedet") as a winged sun disk on the cornice of a pylon at the temple of Edfu
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  The winged sun over the temple of Kom Ombo
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  Relief of the winged sun in the temple of Hathor
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  The winged sun in the Dendera Hathor Temple Complex

Male figure in an Assyrian winged sun emblem (Northwest Palace of Nimrud, Nineveh 9th century BC; British Museum room B, panel 23). This iconography later gave rise to the Faravahar symbol of Zoroastrianism.

Stele to Assurnasiripal II at Nimrud (9th century BC), detail showing the winged sun.

Faravahar in the Persepolis with another smaller winged sun below it

A winged sun is used in the heraldry of the North America Trade Directory.[6]

Variations of the symbol are used as a trademark logo on vehicles produced by the Chrysler Corporation, Mini, Bentley Motors, Lagonda (Aston Martin) and Harley Davidson.

Since WW2, military aircraft of the United States have carried the insignia of a circle with stripes extending from each side like wings. Whether this is coincidental or some symbolic resemblance was intended is unknown. A five-pointed star is inscribed within the circle.

Regarding its video game usage, the symbol has become a common motif in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, most notably featured on title screens displaying the main character, as well as a stylized version appearing as a symbol for religious mechanics and buildings in Civilization VI, among others.