Isis

Lore & Background

After conceiving Horus, Isis fled into the marshes of the Nile Delta to raise him in secret from Set's wrath. During this time, she became known as the great magician, performing feats such as healing a scorpion sting and tricking the sun god Ra into revealing his secret name to gain ultimate power over magic. She is often depicted nursing Horus, an image that later influenced Christian iconography of Mary and Jesus.

Reader's Guide

In the Egyptian understanding of existence, Isis acts as the bridge between the realms of the living and the dead. She is essential to the cycle of rebirth; just as she resurrected Osiris, she guides souls through the afterlife, ensuring they are prepared for judgment before Osiris. Her connection to life is seen in her role as a nurturing mother who protects the vulnerable, while her dominion over death is marked by her presence at mummification rituals.

Priests would often recite spells invoking Isis to protect the deceased, and statues of her were placed near tombs to offer eternal guardianship. Artifacts associated with her include the Tyet knot, often called the 'Knot of Isis,' which was worn as an amulet for protection against evil spirits. This symbol, resembling an ankh but with arms curving downward, was sometimes made of red jasper or faience and buried with the dead to ensure safe passage.

Did You Know?

• Isis is one of the few deities whose worship spread beyond Egypt to become a major religion in Rome and Greece.
• Her name literally means 'Throne,' symbolizing her role as the seat of power for the king, who was considered the living Horus.
• She was credited with inventing the art of mummification after learning it from Thoth to preserve Osiris's body.