Offerings to Auset

found freely and shared with love. please let us know if you need some help learning more about these listed tools ^_^ EGYPTIAN TOOLS OF MAGICK by Karen Charboneau-Harrison Here we discuss the use of amulets and talismans in Egyptian magick. In the earliest magicks, these would have been prepared by an Egyptian priest or priestess, but as time went on, individuals schooled in magickal technique in the House of Life (Per Anhk) would be commissioned to make a specific amulet or talisman for a client. Eventually over time, the creation of an amulet or talisman became so common place that people from all walks of life would make their own. The tools that we’ll focus on for this article are all tools used primarily by the Pharaohs and Priesthood: The ADZ was a tool used in the Opening of the Mouth ceremony by the priesthood at the mummification. It is a staff topped by a ‘U’ shape extending over one side of the staff. By reciting the proper prayers and touching the mummy’s mouth with the Adz, the prayers were transferred to the mummy so that he or she could recite them correctly after passing over. The Adz was also used in initiation ceremonies to transfer wisdom and power to the new Priest or Priestess. This implement was sacred to Anubis (Anupu). The ANKH was a tool representing the element Air. It represented the life-force, personal wisdom, power and vitality. The CADUSEUS was another tool of air used for healing and focusing mental concentration in later Egypt after influence by the Greeks. It is a wand with two snakes entwined up the main staff of the wand with the snake heads at the top. It is a symbol still in use today by the medical profession. Magickally, it was used to draw healing energy into the afflicted area and to suck out the imbalance of the illness. Sacred to Thoth (Tehuti). The CHALICE or CUP was a tool of water used for scrying and to hold the offerings (abet) to the Gods. You can see images of Nephthys (Nebthet), Isis’s twin sister of the Underworld with the sacred Chalice as a crown on Her head. The MIRROR was seen as a tool of the earth and used as a shield for protection with one side rough and the other side smooth and reflective. Typically the mirror was made from gold, silver or copper. The SHAWABTI (also known as a USHABTI) was a small human figure used to represent an individual and used for healing, love and binding. They could be fashioned from clay, wood, faience or wax. In healing, herbs could be burned over the figure to aid in recovery or the figure could be washed with an herbal infusion for the same purpose. A healing stone might be pressed into the body part to draw healing energy to that part when the figure was made from clay, faience or wax. The afflicted body part might be pierced with a sharp object to allow the negative energy of the illness to be released. The Shawabti could be used in love matters in similar ways that we use dolls or image candles today with the intended’s name written on the back of the Shawabti and then anointing the figure with a love oil and then wafted in an incense crafted to draw love. In works to bind an individual from doing evil things, the Shawabti would have the name carved on the back and then be bound with cord or buried in salt to stop the energy. In later dynasties, Shawabtis were made specifically to be buried in the tomb with the official or Pharaoh to serve his or her needs in the afterlife. The SISTRUM was seen as a tool of fire for purification as well as for creation and power. It was shaped like an Ankh and had wires which were fixed on each side running through metal cymbals. By shaking the Sistrum the temple could be cleared with the sound and vibration of this instrument. Sistrums were used in the temples of Isis, Hathor and Bast in particular. The TET (Thet) is also known as the Knot of Isis and represented protection, stability, authority and power. It was carved out of red jasper or carnelian, although in a pinch, it could be made from clay and painted red. The WINGED DISK represented the Sun and is a tool of air and fire for a clear, focused mind. Suspend an image of the Winged Disk in the East to bring clarity and purification to your home. The URAEUS (UA ZIT) is the ultimate symbol of the power of Egypt. It is a crown which fits around the head and has the Cobra (the Goddess Wadjet) protruding from the forehead. The Uraeus was used to stimulate the 3rd Eye, raise Kundalini energies, develop understanding and the ability to act in the astral or spiritual worlds.

learning about this goddess leads us to learn about all the deities of the Egyptian/Kemetic pantheon. Here we speak about them all. stay tuned. more to come. EGYPTIAN GODDESS Isis WRITTEN BY: · Joyce Tyldesley Alternative Titles: Auset, Eset Isis, Egyptian Auset or Eset, one of the most important goddesses of ancient Egypt. Her name is the Greek form of an ancient Egyptian word for “throne.” Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io Isis was initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed, until she became one of the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her cult subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire, and Isis was worshipped from England to Afghanistan. She is still revered by pagans today. As mourner, she was a principal deity in rites connected with the dead; as magical healer, she cured the sick and brought the deceased to life; and as mother, she was a role model for all women. Isis had strong links with Egyptian kingship, and she was most often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and either the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally she was represented as a scorpion, a bird, a sow, or a cow. There are no references to Isis before the 5th dynasty (2465–2325 BCE), but she is mentioned many times in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350–c. 2100 BCE), in which she offers assistance to the dead king. Later, as ideas of the afterlife became more democratic, Isis was able to extend her help to all dead Egyptians. The priests of Heliopolis, followers of the sun god Re, developed the myth of Isis. This told that Isis was the daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut and the sister of the deities Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys. Married to Osiris, king of Egypt, Isis was a good queen who supported her husband and taught the women of Egypt how to weave, bake, and brew beer. But Seth was jealous, and he hatched a plot to kill his brother. Seth trapped Osiris in a decorated wooden chest, which he coated in lead and threw into the Nile. The chest had become Osiris’s coffin. With his brother vanished, Seth became king of Egypt. But Isis could not forget her husband, and she searched everywhere for him until she eventually discovered Osiris, still trapped in his chest, in Byblos. She brought his body back to Egypt, where Seth discovered the chest and, furious, hacked his brother into pieces, which he scattered far and wide. Transforming into a bird, and helped by her sister, Nephthys, Isis was able to discover and reunite the parts of her dead husband’s body—only his penis was missing. Using her magical powers, she was able to make Osiris whole; bandaged, neither living nor dead, Osiris had become a mummy. Nine months later Isis bore him a son, Horus. Osiris was then forced to retreat to the underworld, where he became king of the dead. Isis (right) and Osiris.Judie Anderson/Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Isis hid with Horus in the marshes of the Nile delta until her son was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim his throne. She defended the child against attacks from snakes and scorpions. But because Isis was also Seth’s sister, she wavered during the eventual battle between Horus and Seth. In one episode Isis took pity on Seth and was in consequence beheaded by Horus (the beheading was reversed by magic). Eventually she and Horus were reconciled, and Horus was able to take the throne of Egypt. Isis was the perfect traditional Egyptian wife and mother—content to stay in the background while things went well, but able to use her wits to guard her husband and son should the need arise. The shelter she afforded her child gave her the character of a goddess of protection. But her chief aspect was that of a great magician, whose power transcended that of all other deities. Several narratives tell of her magical prowess, far stronger than the powers of Osiris and Re. She was frequently invoked on behalf of the sick, and, with the goddesses Nephthys, Neith, and Selket, she protected the dead. Isis became associated with various other goddesses, including Bastet, Nut, and Hathor, and thus her nature and her powers became increasingly diverse. Isis became known, like other fierce goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon, as the “Eye of Re” and was equated with the Dog Star, Sothis (Sirius). Isis nursing HorusIsis nursing Horus, calcite and bronze sculpture from Egypt, c. 712–525 BCE; in the Brooklyn Museum, New York.Photograph by Lisa O'Hara. Brooklyn Museum, New York, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.400E The first major temple dedicated to Isis was built by the Late Period king Nectanebo II (360–343 BCE) at Behbeit el-Hagar, in the central Nile delta. Other important temples, including the island temple of Philae, were built during Greco-Roman times when Isis was dominant among Egyptian goddesses. Several temples were dedicated to her in Alexandria, where she became the patroness of seafarers. From Alexandria her cult spread to Greece and Rome. Images of Isis nursing the baby Horus may have influenced the early Christian artists who depicted the Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Joyce Tyldesley LEARN MORE in these related Britannica articles: · 📷 mystery religion: The Hellenistic period …became equated with Greek gods: Isis with Demeter and Aphrodite; Horus with Apollo and Helios; Serapis with Zeus, Dionysus, and Hades (Pluto). Both Greek and Egyptian myths were adopted for these divinities.… · 📷 mystery religion: Painting …a Greek heroine equated with Isis. Isiac frescoes dating from the time of the emperor Caligula in the 1st century ad are also found in the ruins on the Palatine at Rome. In the Mithraeum under Sta. Prisca in Rome, two layers of frescoes were found that show the procession… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance With his consort, Isis, Osiris became dominant in many contexts during the 1st millennium bce, when solar worship was in relative decline.… · 📷 ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions …and, in the figure of Isis, with the role of the Virgin Mary. The iconography of the Virgin and Child has evident affinities with that of Isis and the infant Horus. Thus, one aspect of Egyptian religion may have contributed to the background of early Christianity, probably through the cultural… · 📷 ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, civilization in northeastern Africa that dates from the 4th millennium bce. Its many achievements, preserved in its art and monuments, hold a fascination that continues to grow as archaeological finds expose its secrets. This article focuses on Egypt from its prehistory through its unification under Menes (Narmer) in… ADDITIONAL MEDIA · MORE ABOUT Isis 14 REFERENCES FOUND IN BRITANNICA ARTICLES Assorted References · celibacy · In celibacy: Pagan religions of the ancient Mediterranean · Egyptomania · In Egyptomania: Sphinxes, Obelisks, and Scarabs · inclusive monotheism · In monotheism: Inclusive monotheism · influence on Hellenistic world · In Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions · Providence · In providence: Etymological history of the term association with · Io · In Io · Osiris · In Osiris role in mystery cults in Roman times · In mystery religion: The Hellenistic period · Egyptian religion · In ancient Egyptian religion: Nature and significance · In ancient Egyptian religion: Influence on other religions VIEW MORE ADDITIONAL READING EXTERNAL WEBSITES ARTICLE HISTORY ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS FEEDBACK Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article!Contact our editors with your feedback. RELATED TOPICS · Myth · Nephthys · Ancient Egyptian religion · Osiris · Seth · Horus · Nut · Io

Join the discussion; what do you think of the Goddess Isis? "The kernel of the Isis archetype is the consciousness of being the seat of life; a woman's awareness of her own function of beginner, nurturer and medium for life to accomplish its means."  - Manuello Dunn Mascetti, The Song of Eve "The Spirit of Nodens - God of the Great Deep - flashed forth as lightning from the depths and formed a throne in celestial realms - a seat of stone - whereon the Goddess was established. She ruled from the throne of stone which Nodens had fashioned, and about her the temple of Nu-Isis grew into being. This also was of stone, hollowed out, and of the lightning. And this Seat of Stone whirled forth in the heavens - the vehicle of Nodens' fire - veiled from mortal eyes by a vitreous curtain of deep unyielding ocean." - Kenneth Grant, The Hidden God "Isis, represented in the Song of Solomon by the dark maid of Jerusalem, is symbolic of receptive nature - the watery, maternal principle which creates all things out of herself after impregnation has been achieved by the virility of the sun." - Manly P. Hall, Masonic, Hermetic, Qabbalistic & Rosicrucian Symbolical Philosophy "Isis' magic was allied to the wisdom of Thoth and given to mankind as a skill in Healing; she was also responsible, as the counterpart of Osiris, for teaching the household arts to women. She taught them weaving and spinning, and how to grind the corn. Her strongest appeal was to the sorrowing wife and devoted mother - every woman could identify with her and she has been seen by some commentators as the archetype of a cult that continues in the Christian churches to the present day." - Richard Patrick, Egyptian Mythology "Cyril, the Bishop of Alexandria, had openly embraced the cause of Isis, the Egyptian goddess, and had anthropomorphized her into Mary, the mother of God." - H. P. Blavatsky, Isis Unveiled "Immaculate is our Lady Isis...the very terms applied afterwards to that personage (the Virgin Mary) who succeeded to her form, titles, symbols, rites, and ceremonies....Thus, her devotees carried into the new priesthood the former badges of their profession, the obligation to celibacy, the tonsure, and the surplice, omitting, unfortunately, the frequent ablutions prescribed by the ancient creed." "The 'Black Virgins' , so highly reverenced in certain French cathedrals - proved, when at last critically examined - basalt figures of Isis!'" - King, The Gnostics and their Remains A single flame gathered strength from the women who circled around it.. Their spirit breathed as one into the crucible, and the flame leapt forth from the life-giving elixir of souls. These priestesses of Isis came not to praise a Goddess, but  to sanctify the hallowed presence of  LIFE within themselves, and in all that shared their world.  This was ISIS to them...the Giver of Life.  "Come forward to me," she sang, "compose your song into my heart and live it in your soul." (This meditation I was inspired to create for our JOURNEY OF HORUS into Egypt. It was preparatory for our experience as a group in the Temple of Isis at Philae. I am repeating it here, as I felt it was appropriate to do so. I have made some slight modifications for ROA.) In your inner vision, visualize yourself in the midst of a light pink sky. It is the first shades of dawn and you are floating in the midst of pale mauve and white clouds, drifting in a pastel sea comprised of crystalline showers of light. Like tiny specks of fairy dust, they rain upon you and you feel these crystal particles transmitting Light into your body. The sensation is peaceful, yet quickening to your higher senses. You surrender in trust to the emotion of oneness, of loving that impels you forward through the sky. Coming into your sight now is a single golden star, brilliant and beckoning to your soul. In response to your mere thought, you find yourself inside the star. All time is loosed from its bonds upon you. You can now simply ‘be’, in all time, in all space, eternally You find yourself standing in the Solar Boat of Ra, the prow shaped in the image of a falcon head symbolizing Horus, Son of the Sun. You know you have donned the garment of your ancient and future self. You are a high priest or priestess of the Temple of One. Now you glide among the sacred realms and the worlds of twilight. With you on this vessel of passage are the other Women of the Avalon Shield. Together, you come upon the Temple of Isis at Philae. Two rays or beams of light, one Yellow and the other Green penetrate the temple and your being alights from its vessel and moves through the entwining rays into the Temple of the Mother-God, Isis Resplendent. The stones of the temple floor are smooth yet powerful beneath your bare feet. You feel the language of the ancients in them as the sacred meaning rises through the soles of your feet, permeating your entire body. You say within your heart: “Lo, I have come unto thee, Mother of the World. I am thy Child, thy suckling babe. Hear me, for I shall become you and dance your dance in the greater assembly of heavens. I am the Child, I am the Mother. I am She who carries thee within me.” As you summon the Goddess Isis, so you see before you the symbol of the Tskahara, The Unbinding. This is the power-sign to release the knot that binds the mind to the fallen world. Feel the unbinding of your karmic knot in the solar plexus. Loosen it and let it go. Chant  seven times (either aloud or in silence) the mantram of this Temple of the Horian Way: See-has-seso-meh.  As you do, feel the knot in your solar plexus region dissipate and dissolve away. Begin to free-flow for several minutes in integration with  Isis in Her Temple of Light. Now, with Horus as your guide, return to the Solar Boat. As we, the Women of the Avalon Shield,  embark into the eternal sea, so we turn around and  gaze one last time upon the sacred center we leave behind. Inscribe this image into your mind, as you move into the enveloping mist of your passage home. Upon the horizon, you see a golden star. Sail through the star, it is your portal of return.