Egyptian religion

Egyptian Religion

Religion was very important in Egypt. But it was very different from most people's religion today in America. Instead of praising one God, the Egyptians worshipped many. The most important of all of them was Isis, the mother goddess. Isis has taken many different forms and names over the centuries, but we are going to look at her through the eyes of the ancient Egyptians.

Isis and Osiris

It may seem strange to us, but Isis and Osiris were not only husband and wife, they were brother and sister. It was not uncommon in ancient Egypt for royalty (and ordinary people) to marry their sisters. Their mother is Nut, the Egyptian sky goddess. Isis and Osiris were born to be together and they had a perfect and complete love, until one day when the worst enemy of Osiris, Seth, killed Osiris and threw his body into the Nile river. The body of Osiris floated all the way to Phoenicia, where the mourning Isis finally found it. She brought the body back to Egypt and tried to hide it from Seth. But while Isis was taking care of their child Horus, Seth found the body of Osiris and tore it into pieces. He then took the pieces and scattered them in various places. Isis, still in mourning for the death of her brother-husband, had to search for the pieces again. She succeeded in finding all the parts but one. And along with her assistant Anabis, she brought Osiris back from the dead. Osiris was then sent to be among the gods, and he himself became the ruler of the dead. Isis became the goddess of mourning, curing the sick and other things.

Horus

Isis and Osiris had a child. His name was Horus and Isis raised him to avenge the death of his father. When Horus grew up, he fought many battles with Seth, until he finally defeated him. With the death of his father avenged, Horus became the ruler of the land of Egypt.

In all the artwork and oral stories from the time. Horus is depicted as an infant in his mother's lap.

Isis as a leader

The followers of Isis believed in the sacred value of life itself. All things from men to animals to plants had life, so they should be celebrated. Throughout the centuries The Goddess Mother Isis took on many names and forms, in countries other than Egypt. She has even been compared to the Greek goddess Demeter. But no matter who is following her, she still remains one of the oldest and most celebrated religious figures this world has ever seen.