Isis

Isis

Isis was perhaps the most important goddess of all Egyptian mythology. During the course of Egyptian history, Isis assumed the attributes and functions of virtually every other important goddess in the land. Her most important functions, however, were those of motherhood, marital devotion, healing the sick, and the working of magical spells and charms. 

Isis was the granddaughter of Ra, wife of Osiris, and mother of Horus. A fiercely protective mother and loyal wife, she went on to become the protector of Horus’s son Amset. She raised Anubis, the bastard child of Osiris and Nephthys as her own after his mother abandoned him. Her acts of healing and compassion were renowned throughout the land; those who threatened her loved ones, however, did so at their own peril.

Isis was universally worshipped throughout all of Egypt, an honor reserved for only a few of the pantheon, but such was the reverence of the people. Temples to Isis were built in Iraq, Greece, Rome, and as far north as England.

As was custom in other pantheons of the time, knowing someone’s name was thought to give power over them. Accordingly, true names were closely guarded secrets. Ra’s true name was immensely powerful, as whomever had access to it could control the sun god and all his might. Isis would eventually learn Ra’s true name, and use it to her son’s benefit.

The true name of Ra

Isis had begun plotting her son’s ascent to the throne well before he was born. Such a plot required great cunning and ingenuity, for though Isis was a sorceress of great power, even her magic could not harm the mighty Ra. For all his power, Ra did have several weaknesses. He was elderly, and tended to drool. Isis collected some of this spittle and mixed it with clay, forming it into the shape of a cobra. Then, using her magic, she animated the cobra and set it along a path that Ra walked daily.

True to form, Ra walked the path the next day, and the cobra struck. Unable to resist the cobra’s venom, which had been made from his own essence, Ra became wracked with pain and fever. As he suffered, Isis approached him and offered to cure him—on the condition that he tell her his true name.

Though he was now delirious with pain, Ra was no fool. He rattled off a list of names he was known by, but did not reveal his true name. Isis knew that she had not yet received his true name and told him again, she could only heal him if he gave her his true name. Ra’s pain had intensified throughout this process, and he knew that he would have no peace until he was cured. In an effort to avoid giving her any power over him, Ra attempted to bargain with Isis. In his weakened state, however, he bargained poorly. Isis and Ra ultimately agreed that, if Isis Healed him, he would give her as-of-yet unborn son his eyes, meaning the sun and the moon, the sources of Ra’s power. True to her word Isis offered up an incantation to relieve Ra of his suffering. This laid the foundation for unborn Horus to one day become king of the gods, and a sun god in his own right. This was far in the future, however, and both Isis and Horus would face many trials before these events would come to pass.

The murder of Osiris

One of the best-preserved tales from Egyptian mythology was the murder of Osiris and Isis’s ensuing quest to retrieve his body. The story began during a period of prosperity and peace. Osiris ruled over Egypt and introduced its citizens to agriculture; he also eliminated barbarism. After civilizing Egypt, Osiris embarked on an expedition to bring culture to the rest of the region, which ranged from India to Ethiopia. During Osiris’s absence, Isis ruled over Egypt. With Thoth as her advisor, she proved to be a successful queen.

Set was jealous of his brother’s success, and plotted to kill him when he returned from his travels. He held a party in honor of Osiris’s return, and during the festivities tricked his brother into lying in an ornate box. Set then sealed the box with molten lead and cast it into the Nile. Isis, who was in a distant town at the time of the murder, instantly knew of her husband’s death through soul bond. Without moving from where she stood, she cut off a lock of her hair and donned mourning robes. Isis then set out in search of her husband’s body. Eventually, she came across some children playing who told her that they had seen a chest floating north on the Nile.

During her quest, Isis discovered that her sister Nephthys had once seduced Osiris. After giving birth to Osiris’s child, Nephthys had abandoned it for fear of her husband’s (Set’s) wrath. Concerned, Isis searched for the boy and ultimately found him being cared for by wild dogs. She adopted him then and there, naming him Anubis.

After recovering Osiris’ body, Isis and Nephthys attempted to revive his corpse. Their efforts were successful, if short-lived. Osiris returned long enough to impregnate Isis, but departed the land of the living shortly afterward. However, Set, hearing that Osiris may be resurrected, took the body’s remains and dismembered it, scattering the limbs across all corners of the land.

Following Osiris’s death, Set took control as king and imprisoned Isis in the spinning house of Sais, a prison. As Nephthys was Isis’ sister, Set bound her to their home, not allowing his wife to leave the grounds for fear she might try to rescue Isis. As suspected, Nephthys eventually escaped, and she helped Isis break out of the spinning house.

On the run

Having escaped Set’s grasp, Isis set out for the island of Pe, where the goddess Wadjet resided. Upon arriving at this safe haven, she gave birth to Horus. Hearing of Horus’ birth, Set immediately embarked on an expedition to destroy him. With assistance from Nephthys, Wadjet, Nekhbet, and Hathor, Isis raised Horus in the papyrus swamps of Northern Egypt. Whenever Isis sensed Set’s approach, the group would move on before his followers could find them. Thoth warned her to evade Set until Horus came of age to challenge him for the throne, and she went on to successfully conceal Horus from Set until he was fully grown. When Horus finally came of age, he challenged Set for his kingship; a challenge that he won and Set was deposed.

Following Set’s defeat, he once more sought the body of his brother, Osiris, which by now was purified through mummification and kept in the wabet by Anubis. Having lost everything, he pursued Osiris’ body repeatedly until Anubis violently slaughtered him.

Rebirths

1st Age – Emily Shale