The Myth of Isis and Osiris: A Story of Love and Immortality in Ancient Egyptian Civilization
◾From the womb of ancient Egyptian mythology emerged the story of Isis and Osiris, becoming one of the greatest tales combining love and betrayal, and the eternal struggle between good and evil. It was not just a myth passed down by the ancients, but an immortal epic that inspired the Egyptians’ beliefs about resurrection and immortality.
◾Osiris, the Just King:
Osiris was the god of goodness and life, and a just king on the throne of Egypt. He taught humanity agriculture and the making of bread and wine, and spread civilization and laws among them, filling the land with prosperity.
By his side stood his faithful wife, Isis, the symbol of magic and motherhood, who loved him with an eternal love.
But his brother, Set, the god of chaos and storms, was filled with hatred and jealousy toward Osiris and began plotting to overthrow him.
◾Set’s Conspiracy and His Brother’s Betrayal:
Set built a lavish coffin exactly to Osiris’s size, then invited the gods and princes to a grand feast. He announced that whoever slept inside the coffin and matched his size would be the recipient of the coffin.
When Osiris tested the coffin, Set quickly closed the lid, sealed it with molten lead, and then threw it into the Nile. Thus, the Egyptians lost their just king, and the tragedy of Isis began.
◾The Journey in Search of the Beloved:
Isis embarked on a long, arduous journey, crossing rivers and seas in search of her husband. After much effort, she found the coffin in the city of Byblos (present-day Byblos, Lebanon).
But Set was not satisfied with defeat. He removed the body again, tore it into 42 pieces, and scattered them throughout Egypt to prevent its return.
◾The Power of Love and Magic:
Isis did not despair. With the help of her sister Nephthys, she gathered all the body parts and performed magical and funerary rituals. This gave birth to the mummification rituals that the Egyptians believed in to preserve the body until resurrection.
Isis was able to momentarily resurrect her husband and conceive their son, Horus, who became a symbol of light and justice.
◾As for Osiris, he departed to the underworld to become the god of the dead and ruler of the eternal kingdom.
◾Horus and Revenge:
Horus grew up under the protection of his mother. As he matured, he faced his uncle Set in a protracted struggle that lasted for years. After fierce battles, the gods’ court ruled in Horus’s favor, and he reclaimed the throne. Good triumphed over evil.
From this myth, the Egyptians derived their beliefs about mummyization, resurrection, and life after death.
The myth of Isis and Osiris is not just an ancient story; It is an immortal human epic that embodied the meaning of love, devotion, and the eternal struggle between good and evil. Therefore, it has remained alive in the human consciousness, a testament to the greatness of Egyptian civilization, which believed that death is not the end, but the beginning of a new life.
◾️Article by Eman Sayed..