Isis

Isis

Ägyptischer Maler um 1360 v. Chr. 001

Terre cuite pleureuse Louvre E27247

Egyptian - Isis with Horus the Child - Walters 54416 - Three Quarter Right

Isis was a major goddess in ancient Egyptian religion whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. Isis was first mentioned in the Old Kingdom (c. 2686–2181 BCE) as one of the main characters of the Osiris myth, in which she resurrects her slain husband, the divine king Osiris, and produces and protects his heir, Horus. She was believed to help the dead enter the afterlife as she had helped Osiris, and her magical skills were believed to heal the sick. Also, she was considered the divine mother of the Pharaoh, who was likened to Horus. Her maternal aid was invoked in healing spells to benefit ordinary people.

Throughout the Greco-Roman world, Isis became one of the most significant deities, worshipped as the patroness of nature and magic. She was the friend of slaves, sinners, artisans, and the downtrodden, but she also listened to the prayers of the wealthy, maidens, aristocrats, and rulers. Isis is often depicted as the mother of Horus, the hawk-headed god of war and protection, and she is depicted suckling him in many statues and reliefs. In the context of the Osiris myth, Isis is considered a model of the faithful wife and protective mother.

Worship and Cult

The cult of Isis began in ancient Egyptian religious practices, where she was worshipped as part of the Ennead of Heliopolis, a group of nine deities. Her worship was widespread, with temples dedicated to her throughout Egypt and later in the Roman Empire. The cult of Isis spread to the Greco-Roman world during the Hellenistic period after the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great. It continued to flourish through the Roman period, adapting to the changing religious landscape. The Isis Mysteries, similar to other mystery religions, offered initiates salvation and a closer relationship with the divine.

Iconography and Symbolism

Isis is often depicted with a throne-shaped headdress, which is a hieroglyphic sign of her name in Egyptian. She was sometimes portrayed as a woman with cow horns with the sun disk between them, similar to the goddess Hathor, indicating her role as a divine mother and protector. Other common symbols associated with Isis include the sycamore tree, the ankh, and the was scepter.

Legacy

The worship of Isis was suppressed in the Christianized Roman Empire by the end of the 4th century AD. However, her legacy persisted in the Western world. Isis's figure influenced the iconography of the Christian Virgin Mary; the motherly qualities of Isis, as well as her association with the miraculous birth of Horus, paralleled the Christian narratives of Mary and Jesus. The fascination with ancient Egyptian religion and the figure of Isis was revived during the Renaissance and again in the 19th century with the advent of Egyptology.