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The Goddess IsisEGYPTION GODDESS OF LOVE & MAGIC
One of the best known of the ancient goddesses, Isis Goddess represents the archetype of wifely love and devoted motherhood. Her life as the wife of Osiris was pleasant until Seth’s jealousy led him to murder his elder brother and to persecute his widow. Isis Goddess mourned her husband and located his body. She hid it from his vindictive brother and gave birth to Horus, who was to avenge his father’s death and succeed him as chief god on earth. Sethfeared the powers of his nephew and sought his death too, so Isis Goddesshad to hide and protect her son until he was old enough to take care of himself. Her ordeals and the faithfulness with which she followed her duty earned her the title of “Great Mother.” PAINTING DETAILS Winged Globe The Golden Winged Globe appears over the Pylons and gates of Egyptian temples and palaces representing the Solar Trinity: Ammon, Ra & Osiris Headdress Crowned in fine golden bejeweled garland refelcting a Lunar representation of stars over her black scarf . Necklace From Baactria, est 2000 years old. Location: The Afganistan National Museum. Robe Design Isis was said to have given "Wheat" to mankind, so I symbolically represented it in the design of the dried golden leaves over the royal midnight blue background. |
The Myth and the Mystery of The Goddess Isis
Isis (Ancient Greek:) is a goddess in Ancient Egyptian religious beliefs, whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. She was worshipped as the ideal mother and wife as well 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 (although in some traditions Horus's mother was Hathor). Isis is also known as protector of the dead and goddess of children.
The name Isis means "Throne". Her headdress is a throne. As the personification of the throne, she was an important representation of the pharaoh's power. The pharaoh was depicted as her child, who sat on the throne she provided. Her cult was popular throughout Egypt, but her most important temples were at Behbeit El-Hagar in the Nile delta, and, beginning in the reign with Nectanebo I (380–362 BCE), on the island of Philae in Upper Egypt.
In the typical form of her myth, Isis was the first daughter of Geb, god of the Earth, and Nut, goddess of the Sky, and she was born on the fourth intercalary day. She married her brother, Osiris, and she conceived Horus with him. Isis was instrumental in the resurrection of Osiris when he was murdered by Set. Using her magical skills, she restored his body to life after having gathered the body parts that had been strewn about the earth by Set.
This myth became very important during the Greco-Roman period. For example it was believed that the Nile River flooded every year because of the tears of sorrow which Isis wept for Osiris. Osiris's death and rebirth was relived each year through rituals. The worship of Isis eventually spread throughout the Greco-Roman world, continuing until the suppression of paganism in the Christian era. The popular motif of Isis suckling her son Horus, however, lived on in a Christianized context as the popular image of Mary suckling the infant son Jesus from the fifth century onward.
SHRINES TO ISIS
The most important shrine to Isis Goddess is the Temple of Philae, on an island on the lake between the two dams at Aswan. This beautiful temple, one of those moved to preserve it from the rising waters, associated Isis Goddesswith the Nile and reaffirms some scholars’ notion that in the most ancient daysIsis Goddess was a corn (that is, grain) goddess in consort with her husband, the corn god. The largest of the temples here was built by Nectanebo I and later renovated by Ptolemy II, which makes it more recent than some of the other important temples to the north.
At Luxor
Isis Goddess was represented on the walls of the Temples of Luxor, where she watches over Khnum as he molds a child on his potter’s wheel in the Birth House. Across the river in the tomb of Seti I, she and Nephthys provided special protection for the king who through death has become a god. She was distinctly represented in the treasures of Tutankhamun found in Luxor’s Valley of the Kings and now residing in the Egyptian Museum. This museum contains many additional representations of Isis Goddess , including Pieces from Abydos and Saqqara.
Outside Egypt
Isis Goddess is probably the most famous of the Egyptian gods. Her powers were well known in Greece and Rome, thanks especially to Plutarch, who featured her in one of 1S books and who saw similarities with the Greek Artemis and the Roman Diana. Palestine and other countries of the Middle East were hospitable to her, and her fame has lasted into modern times.
The name Isis means "Throne". Her headdress is a throne. As the personification of the throne, she was an important representation of the pharaoh's power. The pharaoh was depicted as her child, who sat on the throne she provided. Her cult was popular throughout Egypt, but her most important temples were at Behbeit El-Hagar in the Nile delta, and, beginning in the reign with Nectanebo I (380–362 BCE), on the island of Philae in Upper Egypt.
In the typical form of her myth, Isis was the first daughter of Geb, god of the Earth, and Nut, goddess of the Sky, and she was born on the fourth intercalary day. She married her brother, Osiris, and she conceived Horus with him. Isis was instrumental in the resurrection of Osiris when he was murdered by Set. Using her magical skills, she restored his body to life after having gathered the body parts that had been strewn about the earth by Set.
This myth became very important during the Greco-Roman period. For example it was believed that the Nile River flooded every year because of the tears of sorrow which Isis wept for Osiris. Osiris's death and rebirth was relived each year through rituals. The worship of Isis eventually spread throughout the Greco-Roman world, continuing until the suppression of paganism in the Christian era. The popular motif of Isis suckling her son Horus, however, lived on in a Christianized context as the popular image of Mary suckling the infant son Jesus from the fifth century onward.
SHRINES TO ISIS
The most important shrine to Isis Goddess is the Temple of Philae, on an island on the lake between the two dams at Aswan. This beautiful temple, one of those moved to preserve it from the rising waters, associated Isis Goddesswith the Nile and reaffirms some scholars’ notion that in the most ancient daysIsis Goddess was a corn (that is, grain) goddess in consort with her husband, the corn god. The largest of the temples here was built by Nectanebo I and later renovated by Ptolemy II, which makes it more recent than some of the other important temples to the north.
At Luxor
Isis Goddess was represented on the walls of the Temples of Luxor, where she watches over Khnum as he molds a child on his potter’s wheel in the Birth House. Across the river in the tomb of Seti I, she and Nephthys provided special protection for the king who through death has become a god. She was distinctly represented in the treasures of Tutankhamun found in Luxor’s Valley of the Kings and now residing in the Egyptian Museum. This museum contains many additional representations of Isis Goddess , including Pieces from Abydos and Saqqara.
Outside Egypt
Isis Goddess is probably the most famous of the Egyptian gods. Her powers were well known in Greece and Rome, thanks especially to Plutarch, who featured her in one of 1S books and who saw similarities with the Greek Artemis and the Roman Diana. Palestine and other countries of the Middle East were hospitable to her, and her fame has lasted into modern times.
