The uraeus emerged as a royal symbol by the mid-First Dynasty (c. 3000 BCE), appearing in the titulary of Narmer and other early dynastic kings as an element of the serekh - the rectangular frame enclosing the royal name. Its integration into royal regalia symbolised the pharaoh's dominion over the newly unified Two Lands: the cobra of Wadjet (Lower Egypt) paired with the vulture of Nekhbet (Upper Egypt) to represent comprehensive national protection. This pairing, known as the "Two Ladies" (nebwy), became one of the five great names in the royal titulary.

Mythologically, the uraeus was a gift from the sun god Ra, placed upon the pharaoh's brow as the "Eye of Ra" - a weapon of divine retribution against enemies of the state. In the underworld books, multiple uraei encircle Ra's solar barque, spitting fire to destroy the chaos serpent Apophis and ensure the sun's safe passage through the night. Wadjet herself was mythologised as the nurse and protector of the infant Horus in the marshes of Chemmis, establishing the cobra goddess as a divine guardian from the earliest moments of the royal line.

The uraeus was crafted from precious materials - gold, electrum, faience, and semi-precious stones - and affixed to crowns, headdresses, and diadems. Notable surviving examples include the Golden Uraeus of Senusret II (12th Dynasty, c. 1897-1878 BCE), discovered by Flinders Petrie at El-Lahun, featuring lapis lazuli, carnelian, and garnet inlays. From the New Kingdom onward, queens and certain goddesses also wore the uraeus, signifying their participation in divine kingship. Hatshepsut notably incorporated the uraeus into full pharaonic regalia when she assumed kingship.