El mito egipcio de la muerte de Osiris - Alex Gendler

Summary

In ancient Egypt, a grand feast was hosted by the gods Set and Nephtys, where a chest was offered as a prize to the perfect fit. Osiris, the ruler of Egypt, was tricked into the coffin by his envious brother Set and thrown into the Nile. The chest drifted to Byblos, where it was incorporated into a tree. Isis, Osiris's wife, discovered the chest and brought Osiris back to Egypt, but Set dismembered his body. Isis collected the pieces, except his penis, and resurrected Osiris, who then became the ruler of the dead, leaving a legacy through their son.

Takeaways

• 🎉 The script describes a grand feast in ancient Egypt hosted by the deities Set and Nephtys.
• 🏺 A wooden chest, which was actually a coffin, was the centerpiece of the event and the prize for a game.
• 👑 Osiris, the ruler of Egypt and brother of Set, was the guest of honor and fit perfectly into the chest, which was a trap.
• 🔒 Set, driven by jealousy, sealed Osiris in the chest and threw it into the Nile, attempting to usurp his brother's rule.
• 🌊 The chest drifted to Byblos, where it was incorporated into a tree that was then cut down and used in the king's palace.
• 🦅 Isis and Nephtys, sisters of Set and wife and sister of Osiris respectively, sought to find Osiris and restore him.
• 👶 Isis, in disguise, gained access to the palace at Byblos and discovered the chest, but found Osiris dead inside.
• 🕊 Isis, determined to resurrect Osiris, retrieved his body and hid it, embarking on a quest to find a means of bringing him back to life.
• 🔪 Set, discovering the hidden body, dismembered Osiris further, scattering his parts across Egypt.
• 🔍 Isis tirelessly searched for and recovered all but one piece of Osiris's body, which had been eaten by a fish.
• 🌟 Despite the loss, Isis reconstructed Osiris and brought him back to life, though he was now destined to rule the realm of the dead.
• 👶🏻 Osiris and Isis conceived a son, who would carry on Osiris's legacy and one day seek vengeance.

Q & A

Who were the hosts of the extravagant feast described in the script?

The hosts of the extravagant feast were the warrior god Set and his wife, the goddess Nephtys.

What was the centerpiece of the feast's decoration?

The centerpiece of the feast's decoration was a beautiful wooden chest.

What was the significance of the wooden chest in the story?

The wooden chest was a coffin that Set had constructed specifically to trap his brother Osiris.

Why did Set want to trap Osiris in the coffin?

Set was jealous of his brother Osiris's successful reign and wanted to replace him as the ruler of all Egypt.

How did the chest end up near Byblos?

The Nile bore the coffin out to sea, and it drifted for many days before washing ashore near Byblos.

What happened to the chest after it reached Byblos?

A great cedar grew around the chest, and the king of Byblos, noticing the divine aura of the tree, ordered it cut down and brought to his palace.

Who were the sisters of Set that played a crucial role in the story?

Set's sisters were Nephtys, who was also his wife, and Isis, who was married to their brother Osiris.

How did Isis attempt to make the baby prince of Byblos immortal?

Isis decided to make the child immortal by bathing him in flame, but the queen interrupted this process.

What did Isis do after discovering Osiris's body inside the tree?

Isis wept, carried Osiris's body back to Egypt, and hid it in a swamp while she searched for a means to resurrect him.

What did Isis do after Set scattered Osiris's body parts throughout Egypt?

Isis searched all over Egypt, traveling in a boat of papyrus, and tracked down each piece of her husband's dismembered body, holding a funeral for each.

What was the final outcome for Osiris after Isis reconstructed his body?

Osiris was incomplete due to the loss of his penis, and thus could not remain among the living or rule Egypt. Instead, he ruled over Duat, the realm of the dead.

Outlines

00:00

🎉 The Feast of Deception

The story begins with a grand feast in Egypt, orchestrated by the warrior god Set and his wife Nephtys. They invited numerous gods and dignitaries, including their brother Osiris, the ruler of Egypt. Set introduced a game where a beautifully crafted wooden chest was promised to whoever fit perfectly inside. All guests tried and failed until Osiris, fitting perfectly, was trapped by Set's malicious intent. The chest was revealed to be a coffin, and Set sealed Osiris inside and cast it into the Nile, driven by jealousy of his brother's success and a desire to rule Egypt.

🌊 The Voyage of the Cedar Coffin

The chest-cum-coffin carrying Osiris was carried by the Nile to the sea and eventually washed ashore near Byblos, where a cedar tree grew around it. The divine presence within the tree granted it a sacred quality. The king of Byblos, unaware of the coffin inside, had the tree cut down and brought to his palace.

🦅 The Quest of Isis and Nephtys

Isis, Osiris's wife and sister to Set and Nephtys, was determined to find her husband. With the help of Nephtys, they searched in the form of falcons. They were led to the palace of Byblos by children who had seen the coffin. Isis, disguised, gained the trust of the queen and was entrusted with the care of the royal baby. She planned to make the child immortal but was discovered, leading to her demand for the tree which contained Osiris's coffin.

🕊 The Resurrection Attempt

Isis retrieved the coffin from the tree and discovers Osiris dead. She mourns and secretly returns his body to Egypt, hiding it while seeking a way to resurrect him. However, Set finds and dismembers Osiris's body, scattering the pieces across Egypt. Undeterred, Isis embarks on a journey to collect the pieces, conducting funeral rites for each part. Despite the loss of Osiris's penis to a fish, she manages to reassemble and revive him, albeit incompletely.

👑 The Legacy of Osiris

Osiris, now incomplete due to the loss of his penis, cannot return to his former life as the ruler of Egypt. Instead, he is destined to rule over Duat, the realm of the dead. Before his transition, Osiris and Isis conceive a son, Horus, who will carry on Osiris's legacy and one day seek vengeance for his father.

Keywords

💡Osiris

Osiris is a significant deity in ancient Egyptian religion, often associated with the afterlife, resurrection, and fertility. In the script, Osiris is depicted as the benevolent ruler of Egypt who brings prosperity to all. His character is central to the narrative, as his tragic death and subsequent dismemberment drive the plot. The script illustrates Osiris's importance through the elaborate scheme by his brother Set to usurp his power, highlighting the theme of betrayal and the struggle for power.

💡Set

Set, also known as Seth, is a complex deity in Egyptian mythology, often characterized as a god of chaos, storms, and the desert. In the script, Set is portrayed as the jealous brother of Osiris who plots to overthrow him. Set's actions—trapping Osiris in a coffin and casting it into the Nile—serve as the catalyst for the story's events, illustrating the theme of sibling rivalry and the destructive nature of jealousy.

💡Isis

Isis is a major goddess in ancient Egyptian religion, associated with magic, healing, and protection. She is also the wife of Osiris. In the script, Isis is portrayed as a determined and resourceful figure who embarks on a quest to find and resurrect her husband. Her actions, such as disguising herself to gain access to the palace and her relentless search for Osiris's scattered body parts, underscore the theme of love and devotion in the face of adversity.

💡Nephtys

Nephtys is an ancient Egyptian goddess associated with the dead and funeral rites, and she is also the sister of Set and wife of Set in the script. Despite her relationship with Set, she aids her sister Isis in the search for Osiris, demonstrating the complexity of familial relationships and the theme of loyalty and betrayal within the narrative.

💡Resurrection

Resurrection in the context of the script refers to the process of bringing back to life or reviving someone from the dead. This concept is central to the story, as Isis's ultimate goal is to resurrect Osiris. The script illustrates the limits of resurrection when Osiris is found incomplete, as his penis was eaten by a fish, and he can only rule over the dead, highlighting the theme of the inevitability of death and the power of love to transcend it.

💡Duat

Duat is the ancient Egyptian concept of the afterlife, often depicted as a realm of the dead. In the script, after Osiris's resurrection is incomplete due to the loss of his penis, he is destined to rule over Duat. This concept is integral to the narrative, as it signifies the transition from life to death and the different roles gods can play in the afterlife, reinforcing the theme of the duality of life and death.

💡Coffin

In the script, the coffin is a pivotal object, initially presented as a game's prize but later revealed to be a trap set by Set for Osiris. The coffin symbolizes deception and the treachery that leads to Osiris's downfall, serving as a central plot device that drives the story forward and illustrates the theme of betrayal and the consequences of jealousy.

💡Falcon

The falcon is a symbol of the goddesses Isis and Nephtys in the script, as they take the shape of falcons to search for Osiris. The falcon is a powerful bird associated with the sun god Horus in Egyptian mythology, symbolizing protection and divine power. In the narrative, the transformation into falcons allows the goddesses to travel swiftly and effectively, embodying the theme of transformation and the pursuit of justice.

💡Byblos

Byblos is a city mentioned in the script where the coffin containing Osiris is found after it drifts out to sea. This location is significant as it represents the far-reaching consequences of Set's actions and the global impact of the divine drama unfolding. The script uses Byblos to emphasize the international scope of the story and the interconnectedness of the ancient world.

💡Immortality

Immortality in the script is a concept explored through Isis's attempt to make the baby prince of Byblos immortal by bathing him in flames. This act is a reflection of her divine powers and her desire to protect and preserve life. The concept of immortality is central to the narrative, as it contrasts with the mortal fate of Osiris and the limitations of divine intervention in the face of death.

💡Vengeance

Vengeance is a theme that emerges towards the end of the script, as Osiris and Isis conceive a son who is destined to avenge his father's death. This concept is integral to the narrative, as it sets up a future conflict and resolution, suggesting that the cycle of betrayal and power struggles will continue, even as Osiris transitions to rule over the dead.

Highlights

A grand feast was held in Egypt, organized by the warrior god Set and his wife, goddess Nephtys.

The centerpiece of the feast was a beautifully crafted wooden chest.

All important gods, lesser deities, and foreign monarchs were invited to the event.

Osiris, the ruler of Egypt and brother of Set, was the most anticipated guest.

Set introduced a game where the chest would be given to whoever fit perfectly inside it.

Osiris was the only one who fit perfectly in the chest, which was a trap set by Set.

Set sealed Osiris inside the chest-cum-coffin and threw it into the Nile.

The chest, now adrift in the Nile, eventually reached Byblos and was enveloped by a great cedar tree.

The king of Byblos, unaware of the chest's contents, had the tree cut down for his palace.

Isis, Osiris's wife and sister of Set, was determined to find her husband.

Isis and Nephtys, in the form of falcons, searched for Osiris with the help of children who had seen the chest.

Isis, disguised, gained the trust of the queen of Byblos and was entrusted with the care of the baby prince.

Isis attempted to make the baby prince immortal, which led to her revealing her true identity.

Isis demanded the cedar tree, which contained the chest with Osiris's body.

Osiris was found dead, and Isis, in grief, took his body back to Egypt to hide it.

Isis embarked on a quest to resurrect Osiris, despite his body being scattered by Set.

Isis recovered all but one piece of Osiris's body, his penis, which was eaten by a fish.

Using the recovered pieces, Isis reconstructed Osiris, who was then destined to rule the realm of the dead.

Osiris and Isis conceived a son, who would carry on Osiris's legacy and avenge him.

Transcripts

It was a feast like Egypt had never seen before.

The warrior god Set and his wife, the goddess Nephtys,

decorated an extravagant hall for the occasion,

with a beautiful wooden chest as the centerpiece.

They invited all the most important gods, dozens of lesser deities,

and foreign monarchs.

But no one caused as big a stir as Set and Nephtys’s older brother Osiris,

the god who ruled all of Egypt and had brought prosperity to everyone.

Set announced a game—

whoever could fit perfectly in the chest could have it as a gift.

One by one, the guests clambered in, but no one fit.

Finally, it was Osiris’s turn.

As he lay down, everyone could see it was a perfect fit—

another win for the god who could do no wrong.

Then Set slammed the lid down with Osiris still inside, sealed it shut,

and tossed it into the Nile.

The chest was a coffin.

Set had constructed it specifically to trap his brother

and planned the party to lure him into it.

Set had long been jealous of his brother’s successful reign,

and hoped to replace him as the ruler of all Egypt.

The Nile bore the coffin out to sea and it drifted for many days

before washing ashore near Byblos, where a great cedar grew around it.

The essence of the god within gave the tree a divine aura,

and when the king of Byblos noticed it,

he ordered the tree cut down and brought to his palace.

Unbeknownst to him,

the coffin containing Egypt’s most powerful god was still inside.

Set’s victory seemed complete, but he hadn’t counted on his sisters.

Set’s wife Nephtys was also his sister,

while their other sister, the goddess Isis,

was married to their brother Osiris.

Isis was determined to find Osiris,

and enlisted Nephtys’s help behind Set’s back.

The two sisters took the shape of falcons and travelled far and wide.

Some children who had seen the coffin float by

pointed them to the palace of Byblos.

Isis adopted a new disguise and approached the palace.

The queen was so charmed by the disguised goddess

that she entrusted her with nursing the baby prince.

Isis decided to make the child immortal by bathing him in flame.

When the horrified queen came upon this scene,

Isis revealed herself and demanded the tree.

When she cut the coffin from the trunk and opened it,

Osiris was dead inside.

Weeping, she carried his body back to Egypt and hid it in a swamp,

while she set off in search of a means of resurrecting him.

But while she was gone,

Set found the body and cut it into many pieces,

scattering them throughout Egypt.

Isis had lost Osiris for the second time, but she did not give up.

She searched all over the land, traveling in a boat of papyrus.

One by one, she tracked down the parts

of her husband’s dismembered body in every province of Egypt,

holding a funeral for each piece.

At long last, she had recovered every piece but one—

his penis, which a fish in the Nile had eaten.

Working with what she had, Isis reconstructed and revived her husband.

But without his penis, Osiris was incomplete.

He could not remain among the living,

could not return to his old position as ruler of Egypt.

Instead, he would have to rule over Duat, the realm of the dead.

Before he went, though, he and Isis conceived a son to bear Osiris’s legacy—

and one day, avenge him.