Osiris, Can You See?

[vovat]

This is an appropriate time of year to discuss myths of the death and rebirth of deities. This idea is common to belief systems throughout the world, but I can think of only one that involves a detached penis being eaten by a fish. I refer, of course, to the story of Osiris.

Osiris was one of the most important Egyptian gods, and was regarded as the first Pharaoh of the land. His brother Set was jealous of his position, and killed Osiris by sealing him in a box, which he threw in the Nile. Set is a rather interesting character himself, as he seems to be one of the earliest gods who wasn't just a trickster or a jerk, but rather purely evil. This wasn't always the case, however. He was originally the god of the desert and of chaos, but was eventually vilified, and came to be essentially the Satan of the Egyptian pantheon. Anyway, getting back to Osiris, his wife Isis retrieved him from the box, and sought the help of Thoth in bringing him back to life. Before the ritual could be completed, Set stole his brother's body and cut it into pieces, which he scattered throughout the country. Isis managed to find all of them except for his penis, as it had become literal fish food, and had him revived. Still, he was not allowed to stay in the world of the living, and became the ruler of the underworld instead. Pharaohs, and eventually common Egyptians as well, were said to be able to become Osiris at death, essentially being able to gain new life and avoid harsh judgment in the next world by accepting him as their savior, in much the same way as people today seek salvation by means of another resurrected god. There's truly nothing new under the great solar disc of Amon-Ra, is there?

Comments

[vilajunkie.livejournal.com]

True, but how many people still worship a green guy in a mummy costume? *g*

[burningofroissy.livejournal.com]

*whistles innocently*

[vilajunkie.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah, besides people in pointy black hats. :D

[burningofroissy.livejournal.com]

And Egyptian reconstructionists.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

What about on Halloween?

[burningofroissy.livejournal.com]

Hm, that would be the Feast of Sekhmet Bast Ra (http://showcase.netins.net/web/ankh/calendar1.html). That's three major deities [or three worshipped as one? idk, they liked to combine gods sometimes], so that's gotta be some feast. Sounds like there would have been a lot of roast oxen, bread and beer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_cuisine). Not too different from your average barbecue, actually.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I wonder how roast ox tastes. I guess it wouldn't be too much different from roast beef, would it?

[zimbra1006.livejournal.com]

hehe, yeah, that myth is pretty nutty. I took a History of Ancient Egypt class in college and we talked about that story early in the class. I think he said Isis found his penis and "sat" on it and impregnated herself or something. I guess I don't remember the details, but there was definitely penile discussion. I just remember thinking, well they didn't cover THAT part when I learned this stuff in junior high! :P

[vovat.livejournal.com]

With just a little bit of searching, I found a few different stories for how Isis got pregnant with Horus. I think some just say that she brought Osiris' spirit upon her, which apparently got her pregnant with no sperm needed.

o mighty isis!

[suegypt.livejournal.com]

I always wondered what was the intended carry-away when Isis supposedly got him all back together except for 'little Osiris.' Did the priests of the religion deem sex to be beneath the gods? Was it that Isis saw her chance to make him over and just didn't try too hard to find the royal unit? Did she think if he was a god he could grow a new and better obelisk?

I think that myth likes its Gods castrated, figuratively or literally. I like the way Anne Rice drew the connections between her vampires and the ancient Egyptian gods...

Re: o mighty isis!

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I believe Horus also castrated Set during the battle between the two of them, so that's even more dismemberment for you. Since the first god made all of the others simply by masturbating, maybe the gods were worried about overpopulation.

[burningofroissy.livejournal.com]

Didn't Isis eventually recover his junk and use it to become pregnant with Horus?

[carvinkeeper12.livejournal.com]

Yup. I think it was reattached by that point. She took hawk form and perched on him that way, which is why Horus is usually depicted with a hawk's head.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Yeah, changing your DNA like that really does wreak havoc with genetics, doesn't it? {g}

Osiris

[charliner.livejournal.com]

Actually, Osiris was killed twice.

The first time he was tricked into a coffin by Set where he drowned and was found dead (but completely whole) by Isis. She used a spell taught to her by her father, the earth god Geb, to resurrect Osiris. It was at THIS point that she was impregnated and once they finished the deed Osiris died again.

Isis hid Osiris' body in the desert and several months after this Horus was born. While Isis was away raising Horus, Set was out hunting one night and discovered Osiris' body.

It is at THIS point that Set tore him into 14 pieces and scattered them across the lands. Isis did manage to find everything with the exception of the phallus and he was basically put back together in his bandages so that he could receive a proper burial.

Horus is represented as a falcon because he is the sky god.

Hope this helps :)

Charline Ratcliff, Author
www.thecurseofnefertiti.com

Re: Osiris

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Thanks for clearing that up. I'm sure there were several different versions of the myth, though, as that's usually the case.