The Isisian Triad
GodsWho: Goddess Isis, God Osiris and God Horus
What: The Cult of Isis, in an earlier form, the “Cult of Osiris”, they were the trio of deities primarily supported in Egypt throughout the Pharaonic time
Where: Chief home and place of worship was at Abydos and then the Isis Temple, Philae Island
When: Old Kingdom period right through to beginning of Christianity
The Goddess Isis
“Lady of Heaven”, The Mythological Mother and Wife of Pharaohs, “Mistress of life, ruler of fate and destiny”
Deity of: Protectress of the Kingdom from its enemies, governess of the Skies and the Natural World, Patroness of Women
Cult Centres: Isis Temple, Philae Island, Dendera Temple and Iseion Temple, Behbeit el-Hagar
Symbol: Tyet – a looped shape similar to the Ankh added her protection to the wearer
Parents: God Geb and Goddess Nut
Siblings: God Osiris, God Set, Goddess Nephthys, God Horus the Elder
Consort: God Osiris, God Min, God Serapis, God Horus the Elder
Offspring: God Horus and Four Sons of Horus
Depicted as: Human woman wearing a Sheath dress, holding a staff of papyrus in one hand, and an ankh sign in the other, with a throne-like hieroglyph on her head. During the New Kingdom she was drawn wearing Goddess Hathor’s headdress: a sun disk between the horns of a cow
Rose to prominence: Old Kingdom until Roman Egypt
In the Texts
Pyramid Texts: Goddess Isis and Goddess Nephthys assist the deceased Pharaoh reach the Afterlife
Coffin Texts: Goddess Isis appears still more frequently
Book of the Dead: Goddess Isis protects deceased souls as they face the dangers in the Duat and assists God Osiris in judging souls’ moral righteousness
Funerary Texts: Goddess Isis is shown mourning God Osiris and was said to have written one of the Books of Breathing for him
The God Osiris
“He Who is Permanently Benign and Youthful”, “Lord of Silence”, “Lord of the Sky” and “Life of the God Ra”
Deity of: Fertility, Agriculture, the Afterlife, the Dead, Resurrection, Life and Vegetation. He judged the dead and oversaw the underworld that granted all life
Cult centres: Busiris, Philae, Dendera and Abydos
Parents: God Geb and Goddess Nut
Siblings: Goddess’ Isis & Nephthys, Gods’ Set & Horus the Elder
Consort: Goddess Isis
Offspring: God Horus the Younger
Symbols: Crook and flail, Atef crown, ostrich feathers, fish, mummy gauze, Djed
Depicted with green skin which shows rebirth or with black skin which shows the fertility of the Nile floodplain
Rose to prominence: Mid 5th Dynasty
5-day festival of Osiris
The Stela of Ikhernofret records the 5 days of the Festival of Osiris:
The First Day Procession of God Wepwawet, the “opener of the way”
The re-enactment of the battle between Osiris and his enemies in which the enemies are soundly defeated
The Second Day The Great Procession of God Osiris
His body is taken from his Temple to his Tomb via his Funerary Boat called the “Neshmet” barque which needed to be defended against his enemies
The Third Day God Osiris is mourned: enemies of the Land are destroyed
The Fourth Day Night Vigil
Prayers and recitations are made, and funeral rites performed
The Fifth Day God Osiris is Reborn
He is reborn at dawn and crowned with the crown of Ma’at. A statue of Osiris is brought to the temple
The God Horus/Ra-Horakhty
The distant one, the one who is above
Deity of: Kingship and The Sky, the Sun being his right eye and the Moon his left
Parents: Goddess Isis and God Osiris
Siblings: God Anubis and Goddess Bastet
Consort: Goddess Hathor
Offspring: Ihy
Depicted as: Full Falcon through to a falcon-headed man wearing the Double Crown of all Egypt
Symbols: Eye of Horus – symbol of protection and royal power from deities: known as “Wadjet” and created to protect the Pharaoh in life and in the afterlife, all the while, warding off evil
Rose to prominence: Rose to prominence: late prehistoric Egypt until Roman Egypt
Cult centres: Nekhen, Edfu
