Osiris

Standing Osiris edit1

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Head of the God Osiris, ca. 595-525 B.C.E.

Tumba de Tutankamón, Valle de las Reyes, Luxor, Egipto, 2022-04-03, DD 75

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La Tombe de Horemheb cropped

Sokar-Osiris

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Jewel Osiris family-E 6204-IMG 0641-gradient

Osiris is one of the most significant deities in ancient Egyptian religion and mythology. Known as the god of the afterlife, the underworld, and rebirth, Osiris played a crucial role in the religious consciousness of ancient Egypt. His mythology is deeply intertwined with themes of death, resurrection, and the cyclical nature of life and the universe.

Mythology

Osiris is the son of Geb, the god of the earth, and Nut, the goddess of the sky. He has several siblings, including Isis, Set, and Nephthys. Osiris was married to his sister, Isis, a union that was central to his myth and cult. According to myth, Osiris was initially a king of Egypt who taught the Egyptians the arts of civilization, including agriculture.

The most famous legend associated with Osiris is his murder and resurrection. His brother, Set, jealous of Osiris's power and influence, killed him and dismembered his body, scattering the pieces across Egypt. Isis, mourning her husband, searched for and reassembled his body parts. With the help of Anubis, the god of embalming, she resurrected Osiris. However, since Osiris had been dead, he could no longer rule among the living and instead became the lord of the underworld, the Duat, where he would judge the souls of the deceased.

Osiris's death and resurrection were symbolic of the annual Nile flood and the agricultural cycle. His resurrection by Isis was seen as a promise of eternal life for the souls of the dead.

Cult and Worship

The cult of Osiris dates back to the Old Kingdom of Egypt (c. 2686–2181 BCE) but became more widespread during the Middle Kingdom (c. 2055–1650 BCE). Osiris was worshipped throughout Egypt, with major cult centers at Abydos and Busiris. The Osirian mysteries, associated with his death and rebirth, were celebrated in rituals that symbolized death and rebirth, promising eternal life to participants and believers.

One of the most significant festivals in honor of Osiris was the Khoiak festival, celebrated in Abydos. It involved a dramatic reenactment of Osiris's death and resurrection, culminating in the planting of barley seeds in "Osiris beds," symbolizing the promise of rebirth and renewal.

Iconography

In art and iconography, Osiris is often depicted as a mummified king, holding a crook and flail, symbols of authority and kingship, and wearing the Atef crown, a white crown flanked by two ostrich feathers. His skin is often painted green or black, representing vegetation and the fertile Nile soil.

Legacy

Osiris's influence extended beyond religion and mythology into the daily lives of the ancient Egyptians. He was central to their concepts of the afterlife and moral order. The promise of resurrection and eternal life in the Field of Reeds, a paradisiacal realm ruled by Osiris, was a fundamental aspect of ancient Egyptian religious belief.

The myth of Osiris also had a significant impact on later cultures and religions. Elements of his story can be seen in the mythologies and religious practices of other cultures in the Mediterranean and Near East.

See Also

• Isis
• Set
• Anubis
• Ancient Egyptian religion
• Mythology of ancient Egypt