The Story of Isis

The ancient Egyptian goddess Isis was worshipped throughout Egypt and even in the Greco-Roman regions. Archaeological evidence like the discovery of obelisks erected in her honor in Rome and inscriptions and symbols of Isis found across Europe suggest she was a popular goddess with devoted followers. Isis symbolized the perfect mother and ideal wife and was the patron of magic and nature. Like most gods in cultures that practice polytheism, Isis was responsible for many aspects of Egyptian life. Friend to sinners and slaves. Savior of the penniless and patron of the arts. She was a symbol of fertility and goddess of motherhood.

The goddess Isis was born the first daughter of Geb, the god of the Earth and Nut, goddess of the overarching sky. Egyptian mythology tells how she married her brother Osiris, whom she loved deeply and bore a son, Horus. One of Egypt's most prominent folklore tales tells the story of how Osiris was betrayed by his enemy Seth. Seth tricked Osiris and drowned him in the Nile. Isis used magic to bring her husband back to life, but Seth was unyielding and struck down Osiris again. To prevent Isis from using her magic again, he hacked the body to pieces and cast it across the desert.

Grief-stricken, Isis set out across the desert in hopes of find the remains of her husband and making him whole again. After decades of searching, Isis reassembled the remains of her husband and used her magical power to bring him back from the dead.
The story has many versions. Some suggest that Osiris was nearly completely restored with the exception of his genitalia, which she could not find. Instead, Isis fashioned a substitute from gold and wax and used it to impregnate herself to bear her son Horus. Horus becomes a powerful god in his own right and exacts revenge on Seth, destroying him in retribution for his father's death.

Isis was different than most other Egyptian gods and goddesses in that she dwelled amongst her worshippers. The goddess taught women the art of weaving, sewing, cooking and other household skills. She was revered as the goddess of medicine and wisdom. She also played an important role as protector of the dead. Egyptian folklore suggests that the annual flooding of the Nile is actually caused by the tears of Isis at her husband's death.

Isis was closely identified with the sky goddess Hathor and over time assumed many of the roles and iconography of Hathor, including the horn and sun disk crown. In Egyptian art, she is frequently seen carrying a simple staff and the Ankh symbol. She was also frequently portrayed with wings that were outstretched as a symbol of her protective spirit. Isis also meant "seat" or "throne." She was regarded as the symbolic mother of the king. A popular exhibit at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo depicts Isis nursing Horus. This was a common subject of Egyptian art that emphasized Isis' protector role.