The Goddess Isis

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The Goddess Isis

The Goddess Isis

Isis or in original more likely Aset(Ancient Greek: ) was a goddess in Ancient Egyptian

religious beliefs, whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. She wasworshipped as the ideal mother and wife as well as the matron of nature and magic. She was thefriend of slaves, sinners, artisans, and the downtrodden, and she listened to the prayers of the

wealthy, maidens, aristocrats, and rulers. Isis is the goddess of motherhood, magic and fertility.

The goddess Isis (the mother of Horus) was the first daughter of Geb, god of the Earth, and Nut,the goddess of the Overarching Sky, and was born on the fourth intercalary day. At some time

Isis and Hathor had the same headdress. In later myths about Isis, she had a brother, Osiris, who


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became her husband, and she then was said to have conceived Horus. Isis was instrumental in theresurrection of Osiris when he was murdered by Seth. Her magical skills restored his body to life

after she gathered the body parts that had been strewn about the earth by Set. This myth becamevery important in later Egyptian religious beliefs.

Isis is also known as protector of the dead and goddess of children from whom all beginningsarose. In later times, the Ancient Egyptians believed that the Nile River flooded every yearbecause of her tears of sorrow for her dead husband, Osiris. This occurrence of his death andrebirth 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.

Origin Of The Name

The name Isis is an anglicized version of the Greek version of her name, which itself changedthe original Egyptian name spelling by the addition of a last -s because of the grammaticalrequirements of Greek endings.

The Egyptian name was recorded as s.tors.tand meant (She of the) Throne. The trueEgyptian pronunciation remains uncertain, however, because hieroglyphs do not have vowels.

Based on recent studies which present us with approximations based on contemporary languages(specifically, Greek) and Coptic evidence, the reconstructed pronunciation of her name is *Usat[*ys]. Osiriss namethat is, *UsirOsiris (ws-r) also starts with the throne glyph s(-

s). The name survived in Coptic dialects as se orsi, as well as in compound words survivingin names of later people such as Har-si-Ese, which means Horus, son of Isis.

For convenience, Egyptologists arbitrarily choose to pronounce her name as ee -set. Sometimesthey may also say ee-sa because the final t in her name was a feminine suffix, wh ich isknown to have been dropped in speech during the last stages of the Egyptian language.

The name Isis means Throne. Her headdress is a throne. As the personification of the throne,she was an important representation of the pharaohs power, as the pharaoh was depicted as herchild, who sat on the throne she provided. Her cult was popular throughout Egypt, but the mostimportant sanctuaries were at Behbeit El-Hagar in the Nile delta, in Lower Egypt and, beginning

in the reign with Nectanebo I (380-362 BCE), on the Upper Egyptian island of Philae.

Early History
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Her origins are uncertain, but are believed to have come from the Nile Delta. Like other Egyptiandeities she did have a centralized Cult of Isis (New cults) in the Hellenistic Civilization. First

mentions of Isis date back to the Fifth dynasty of Egypt which is when the first literaryinscriptions are found, but her cult became prominent late in Egyptian history, when it began to

absorb the cults of many other goddesses with strong cult centers. This is when the cult of Osiris

arose and she became such an important figure in those beliefs. Her cult eventually spreadoutside Egypt.

During the formative centuries of Christianity, the religion of Isis drew converts from every

corner of the Roman Empire. In Italy itself, the Egyptian faith was a dominant force. At Pompeii,archaeological evidence reveals that Isis played a major role. In Rome, temples were built and

obelisks erected in her honour. In Greece, traditional centres of worship in Delos, Delphi, andEleusis were taken over by followers of Isis, and this occurred in northern Greece and Athens aswell. Harbours of Isis were to be found on the Arabian Sea and the Black Sea. Inscriptions show

followers in Gaul, Spain, Pannonia, Germany, Arabia, Asia Minor, Portugal and many shrineseven in Britain.

Temples

Most Egyptian deities first appeared as very local cults and throughout their history retained

those local centres of worship, with most major cities and towns widely known as the home ofthese deities. Isis originally was an independent and popular deity established in predynastic

times, prior to 3100 BC, at Sebennytos in the northern delta.

Eventually temples to Isis began to spread outside of Egypt. In many locations, devotees of Isisconsidered a number of the local goddesses to be Isis, but under different names. The worship ofIsis was joined to that of other Mediterranean goddesses, such as Demeter, Astarte, Aphrodite,

and more. During the Hellenic era, due to her attributes as a protector and mother, as well as alusty aspect gained when she absorbed some aspects of Hathor, she became the patron goddess

of sailors, who spread her worship with the trading ships circulating the Mediterranean Sea.

ikewise, the Arabian goddess Al-Ozza or Al-Uzza (al ozza), whose name is close to thatof Isis, is believed to be a manifestation of her. This, however, is thought to be based on the

similarity in the name.

Throughout the Graeco-Roman world, Isis became one of the most significant of the mysteryreligions, and many classical writers refer to her temples, cults, and rites.

Temples to Isis were built in Iraq, Greece and Rome, with a well preserved example discoveredin Pompeii. On the Greek island of Delos a Doric Temple of Isis was built on a high over-

looking hill at the beginning of the Roman period to venerate the familiar trinity of Isis, the


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Alexandrian Serapis and Harpocrates. The creation of this temple is significant as Delos isparticularly known as the birthplace of the Greek gods Artemis and Apollo who had temples of

their own on the island long before the temple to Isis was built. At Philae her worship persisteduntil the 6th century, long after the rise of Christianity and the subsequent suppression of

paganism. The cult of Isis and Osiris continued up until the 6th century AD on the island of

Philae in Upper Nile. The Theodosian decree (in about 380 AD) to destroy all pagan temples wasnot enforced there until the time of Justinian. This toleration was due to an old treaty made

between the Blemyes-Nobadae and Diocletian. Every year they visited Elaphantine and at certainintervals took the image of Isis up river to the land of the Blemyes for oracular purposes before

returning it. Justinian sent Narses to destroy the sanctuaries, with the priests being arrested andthe divine images taken to Constantinople. Philae was the last of the ancient Egyptian temples to

be closed.

Associations

Due to the association between knots and magical power, a symbol of Isis was the tietor tyet(meaning welfare/life), also called the Knot of Isis,Buckle of Isis, or theBlood of Isis, which is

shown to the right. In many respects the tyetresembles an ankh, except that its arms pointdownward, and when used as such, seems to represent the idea of eternal life or resurrection. Themeaning ofBlood of Isis is more obscure, but the tyetoften was used as a funerary amulet made

of red wood, stone, or glass, so this may simply have been a description of the appearance of thematerials used.

The star Sopdet (Sirius) is associated with Isis. The appearance of the star signified the advent of

a new year and Isis was likewise considered the goddess of rebirth and reincarnation, and as aprotector of the dead. The Book of the Dead outlines a particular ritual that would protect the

dead, enabling travel anywhere in the underworld, and most of the titles Isis holds signify her asthe goddess of protection of the dead.

Probably due to assimilation with the goddesses Aphrodite and Venus, during the Roman period,the rose was used in her worship. The demand for roses throughout the empire turned rose

production into an important industry.

Mythology

When seen as the deification of the wife of the pharaoh in later myths, the prominent role of Isiswas as the assistant to the deceased pharaoh. Thus she gained a funerary association, her name

appearing over eighty times in the Pyramid Texts, and she was said to be the mother of the four


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deities who protected the canopic jarsmore specifically, Isis was viewed as protector of theliver-jar-deity, Imsety. This association with the pharaohs wife also brought the idea that Isiswas considered the spouse of Horus (once seen as her child), who was protector, and later thedeification of the pharaoh. By the Middle Kingdom, the 11th through 14th dynasties between

2040 and 1640 BC, as the funeral texts began to be used by more members of Egyptian society,

other than the royal family, her role also grows to protect the nobles and even the commoners

By the New Kingdom, the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties between 1570 and 1070 BC, Isis gainedprominence as the mother and protector of the pharaoh. During this period, she is said to

breastfeed the pharaoh and often is depicted doing so.

The role of her name and her throne-crown is uncertain. Some early Egyptologists believed thatbeing the throne-mother was Isiss original function, however, a more modern view states thataspects of that role came later by association. In many African tribes, the throne is known as themother of the king, and that concept fits well with either theory, possibly giving insight into the

thinking of ancient Egyptians.

*Sister-wife to Osiris

In the Old Kingdom, the 3rd Dynasty through to the 6th Dynasty dated between 2686 to 2134BC, the pantheons of individual Egyptian cities varied by region. During the 5th dynasty, Isis

became one of the Ennead of the city of Heliopolis. She was believed to be a daughter of Nut andGeb, and sister to Osiris, Nephthys, and Set. The two sisters, Isis and Nephthys, often were

depicted on coffins, with wings outstretched, as protectors against evil. As a funerary deity, shewas associated with Osiris, lord of the underworld (Duat), and was considered his wife.

A later mythology (ultimately a result of the replacement of another deity, Anubis, of the

underworld when the cult of Osiris gained more authority), tells us of the birth of Anubis. Thetale describes how Nephthys was denied a child by Set and disguised herself as the much moreattractive Isis to seduce him. The plot failed, but Osiris now found Nephthys very attractive, as

he thought she was Isis. They coupled, resulting in the birth of Anubis. Alternatively, Nephthyshad intentionally assumed the form of Isis in order to trick Osiris into fathering her son. In fearof Sets retribution upon them, Nephthys persuaded Isis to adopt Anubis, so that Set would notfind out and kill the child. The tale describes both why Anubis is seen as an underworld deity (hebecomes a son of Osiris), and why he could not inherit Osiriss position (he was not a legitimateheir in this new birth scenario), neatly preserving Osiriss position as lord of the underworld. Itshould be remembered, however, that this new myth was only a later creation of the Osirian cultwho wanted to depict Set in an evil position, as the enemy of Osiris.

In another Osirian myth, Set had a banquet for Osiris in which he brought in a beautiful box andsaid that whoever could fit in the box perfectly would get to keep it. Set had measured Osiris inhis sleep and made sure that he was the only one who could fit the box. Several tried to see

whether they fit. Once it was Osiriss turn to see if he could fit in the box, Set closed the lid onhim so that the box was now a coffin for Osiris. Set flung the box in the Nile so that it woulddrift far away. Isis went looking for the box so that Osiris could have a proper burial. She found

the box in a tree in Byblos, a city along the Phoenician coast, and brought it back to Egypt,


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hiding it in a swamp. But Set went hunting that night and found the box. Enraged, Set choppedOsiriss body into fourteen pieces and scattered them all over Egypt to ensure that Is is couldnever find Osiris again for a proper burial. Isis and her sister Nephthys went looking for thesepieces, but could only find thirteen of the fourteen. Fish had swallowed the last piece, his

phallus, so Isis made him a new one with magic, putting his body back together after which they

conceived Horus. The number of pieces is described on temple walls variously as fourteen andsixteen, and occasionally forty-two, one for each nome or district.

A later mythology (ultimately a result of the replacement of another deity, Anubis, of the

underworld when the cult of Osiris gained more authority), tells us of the birth of Anubis. Thetale describes how Nephthys was denied a child by Set and disguised herself as the much more

attractive Isis to seduce him. The plot failed, but Osiris now found Nephthys very attractive, ashe thought she was Isis. They coupled, resulting in the birth of Anubis. Alternatively, Nephthyshad intentionally assumed the form of Isis in order to trick Osiris into fathering her son. In fear

of Sets retribution upon them, Nephthys persuaded Isis to adopt Anubis, so that Set would notfind out and kill the child. The tale describes both why Anubis is seen as an underworld deity (he

becomes a son of Osiris), and why he could not inherit Osiriss position (he was not a legitimateheir in this new birth scenario), neatly preserving Osiriss position as lord of the underworld. Itshould be remembered, however, that this new myth was only a later creation of the Osirian cult

who wanted to depict Set in an evil position, as the enemy of Osiris.

In another Osirian myth, Set had a banquet for Osiris in which he brought in a beautiful bo x andsaid that whoever could fit in the box perfectly would get to keep it. Set had measured Osiris in

his sleep and made sure that he was the only one who could fit the box. Several tried to seewhether they fit. Once it was Osiriss turn to see if he co uld fit in the box, Set closed the lid onhim so that the box was now a coffin for Osiris. Set flung the box in the Nile so that it would

drift far away. Isis went looking for the box so that Osiris could have a proper burial. She foundthe box in a tree in Byblos, a city along the Phoenician coast, and brought it back to Egypt,

hiding it in a swamp. But Set went hunting that night and found the box. Enraged, Set choppedOsiriss body into fourteen pieces and scattered them all over Egypt to ensure that Is is couldnever find Osiris again for a proper burial. Isis and her sister Nephthys went looking for these

pieces, but could only find thirteen of the fourteen. Fish had swallowed the last piece, hisphallus, so Isis made him a new one with magic, putting his body back together after which they

conceived Horus. The number of pieces is described on temple walls variously as fourteen andsixteen, and occasionally forty-two, one for each nome or district.

* Assimilation of Hathor

When the cult of Ra rose to prominence he became associated with the similar deity, Horus.Hathor had been paired with Ra in some regions and when Isis began to be paired with Ra, soonHathor and Isis began to be merged in some regions also as, Isis-Hathor.

*Mother of Horus

By merging with Hathor, Isis became the mother of Horus, rather than his wife, and thus, whenbeliefs of Ra absorbed Atum intoAtum-Ra, it also had to be taken into account that Isis was one


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In Egypt

Isis was venerated first in Egypt. Isis was the only goddess worshiped by all Egyptians alike, and

whose influence was so widespread that she had become completely syncretic with the Greekgoddess Demeter. After the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great, and the Hellenization of

the Egyptian culture initiated by Ptolemy I Soter, Isis eventually became known as Queen ofHeaven.

*Greco-Roman world

Following the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great the worship of Isis spread throughout

the Graeco-Roman world. Tacitus writes that after Julius Caesars assassination, a temple inhonour of Isis had been decreed; Augustus suspended this, and tried to turn Romans back to the

Roman deities who were closely associated with the state. Eventually the Roman emperorCaligula abandoned the Augustan wariness toward what was described as oriental cults, and itwas in his reign that the Isiac festival of theNavigium Isidis was established in Rome. According

to Josephus, Caligula donned female garb and took part in the mysteries he instituted, and in theHellenistic age Isis acquired a new rank as a leading goddess of the Mediterranean world.Vespasian, along with Titus, practised incubation in the Roman Iseum. Domitian built anotherIseum along with a Serapeum. Trajan appears before Isis and Horus, presenting them with votiveofferings of wine, in a bas-relief on his triumphal arch in Rome. Hadrian decorated his villa at

Tibur with Isiac scenes. Galerius regarded Isis as his protectress

Roman perspectives on cults were syncretic, seeing in new deities, merely local aspects of afamiliar one. For many Romans, Egyptian Isis was an aspect of Phrygian Cybele, whose

orgiastic rites were long-naturalized at Rome, indeed, she was known asIsis of Ten ThousandNames.

Among these names of Roman Isis, Queen of Heaven is outstanding for its long and continuoushistory. Herodotus identified Isis with the Greek and Roman goddesses of agriculture, Demeter

and Ceres.

In later years, Isis also had temples throughout Europe, Africa and Asia. An alabaster statue ofIsis from the 3rd century BC, found in Ohrid, in the Republic of Macedonia, is depicted on the

obverse of the Macedonian 10 denars banknote, issued in 1996.

The male first name Isidore (also Isador), means in Greek Gift of Isis (similar toTheodore, Gods Gift). The name, which became common in Roman times, survived the

suppression of the Isis worship and remains popular up to the presentbeing among others thename of several Christian saints.

The Goddess Isis

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