A Biography of the Egyptian Goddess Isis

A Biography of the Egyptian Goddess Isis

The Egyptian goddess Isis was worshipped throughout Egypt, even from very early dates. Isis was considered to the patron saint of women, mothers and children. Additionally, ancient Egyptians referred to her as Isis the goddess of magic. It is told that she managed to trick Re into revealing his secret name to her and in doing so, Isis obtained many magical powers.

Unlike many Egyptian gods and goddesses, she remained in the same form from the beginning of her history to current dates. The Egyptian goddess Isis achieved much fame throughout history and many temples were dedicated to her honor and for the purpose of worshipping her.

Isis and Osiris

The history of Isis & Osiris, the Egyptian god and goddess, is known throughout Egypt and has become one of the most popular and fabled folklore tale in Egyptian mythology. Isis was believed to be the daughter of Nut and Geb. The Egyptian goddess Isis later married Osiris, another ancient Egyptian deity and who was also her brother. Osiris seems to have been in a continual feud with another Egyptian god, Seth. In many versions of the tale, Osiris and Seth are brothers and Isis and Seth's wife Nephtys are their sisters as well as their wives. Eventually Seth killed Osiris by drowning him in the Nile. Isis the goddess of magic used her powers to bring her husband back to life only to have him once again struck by Seth.

Apparently determined to accomplish the deed in a way that even Isis would be unable to undo, Seth mutilated Osiris into multiple parts and hid them throughout the desert. Isis would not be bested by Seth and in a somewhat romantic tale, proceeded to spend many years searching for her husband's various body parts. The Egyptian goddess Isis finally managed to find almost all of them and once again used her magical powers to bring about his rebirth. At this point, it appears she became pregnant, although the manner by which she became impregnated seems to be a subject of much debate. Some traditions state that Isis hid Osiris until he was able to impregnate her and that Osiris eventually succumbed to death from the wounds inflicted by Seth. Other tales instead contend that Isis actually impregnated herself with her husband's body.

Whatever the method, The Egyptian goddess Isis gave birth to a son, Horus, who would achieve significant fame throughout Egypt. In later years, it was recounted that Horus sought to avenge of his father's murder and proceeded to kill Seth.

The temple of Isis

The Egyptian goddess Isis remained popular in Egyptian mythology even in the days of the Romans and Greeks. Today Isis is worshipped in many circles and the temple of Isis remains a popular icon to this ancient Egyptian goddess. The popularity of this ancient Egyptian goddess seems to know no bounds and her name has even been assumed by an adult film star, Isis Nile.