Osiris Egyptian god, or Usir, is one of the most important gods of ancient Egypt. The name Usir means ‘powerful’ or ‘mighty’. Osiris was the god of the underworld and the afterlife. Osiris was also the god of resurrection and fertility.

Tale of Osiris

His parents were Geb, god of the earth, and Nut, goddess of the sky. He had a brother named Seth, and two sisters, Isis and Nephthys.

When Osiris became king of Egypt, he married his sister Isis. This made Seth jealous. He murdered his brother, placed his body in a chest, and let it drift out to sea. Isis found her husband’s body and brought it back to Egypt.

When Seth discovered the body hidden by Isis, he chopped it up into fourteen pieces and threw them all over Egypt, hoping they would never be found.

This myth, and the gods involved, is the most significant story in Egyptian mythology.

Osiris description

Osiris was king of Egypt, brother and husband of Isis, the most powerful goddess in ancient Egypt. He was also the father of Horus, who avenged his death by killing Seth and became king of Egypt. Horus is also one of the most famous gods of Egypt.

As king of Egypt, it was Osiris who established the cultural values that future kings were sworn to uphold. While kings of Egypt identified with Horus during life, they were associated with Osiris in death.

Osiris was known by many names such as Wennefer, “The Beautiful One” and as judge of the dead, Khentiamenti. He was regarded the all-merciful, forgiving, and just judge of the dead who was responsible for one’s life on earth and in the afterlife.

Being Judge of the Dead, Osiris is frequently depicted as a mummy, with his arms crossed on his breast. One hand held a crook, symbolizing his authority, and the other, a flail, representing the fertility of his land. He also wore the atef-crown, made up of the white crown of Upper Egypt and two ostrich feathers.

The image of Osiris as a mummy served as the precedent to the mummification of pharaohs to resemble Osiris. It was believed that looking like Osiris would remind them of the god and drive away dark spirits by fooling them into thinking the deceased king was the great god himself.

Osiris was also known as The Lord of Love, King of the Living, and Eternal Lord. He was worshipped for thousands of years from before the Early Dynastic Period (3150-2613 B.C.) to the Ptolemaic Dynasty (323-30 BCE).

Osiris Egyptian god tomb

Abydos is where the earliest kings of Egypt are believed to have been buried. It is also where Osiris’ tomb is said to be, which made Abydos a pilgrimage site for Egyptians who wished to be buried as close to his tomb as possible.

A temple at Abydos was dedicated to Osiris. Every year, a huge procession is held and an image of Osiris is carried from his temple to his tomb, and back.

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