How Isis Brought Her True Love Back From the Dead | Fate & Fabled

Summary

The video explores the myth of Isis and Osiris, central figures in ancient Egyptian mythology. It covers their significance in spiritual beliefs, cultural practices, and the formation of societal norms. The tale includes themes of love, betrayal, resurrection, and the afterlife. It highlights the roles of Isis as a healer and protector, and Osiris as a judge in the afterlife. The narrative also connects the myth to historical practices like mummification and the belief in the porous boundary between life and death.

Takeaways

• 🌀 The myth of Isis and Osiris is one of the oldest known and deeply influenced Ancient Egyptian spirituality, social structure, and gender roles.
• 👑 Isis and Osiris were considered two of the most powerful deities, often depicted in funerary texts and Egyptian art, including King Tutankhamun's burial mask and coffin.
• 🏺 The story of Osiris' murder and dismemberment by his brother Set is central to the myth, symbolizing the eternal struggle between order and chaos.
• 🕊️ Isis' relentless search for Osiris' body parts and her efforts to revive him reflect themes of perseverance, ingenuity, and the power of love.
• 🛶 The tale involves various magical elements, such as shape-shifting, quests, and the creation of a new penis for Osiris, showcasing the divine capabilities of the gods.
• 👶 The conception of their son Horus through the brief revival of Osiris signifies the continuation of life and the importance of lineage in Ancient Egyptian belief.
• 🎖️ The battle between Horus and Set symbolizes the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt, with Horus' victory representing the triumph of order over chaos.
• 📜 The religious texts, from the Pyramid Texts to the Book of the Dead, provide guidelines for the afterlife and emphasize Osiris' role as the judge of the dead.
• 🧙‍♀️ Isis was revered as a protectress and a mother figure, embodying the nurturing aspects of life, including medicine, healing, and even beer brewing.
• 🌍 The worship of Isis extended beyond Egypt, with her cult spreading to North Africa, Crete, Pompeii, and Northern Europe, influencing later religious practices.
• 👼 The iconography of Isis and her child Horus has parallels in Christian art, particularly in the depiction of the Madonna and child, indicating a cultural cross-pollination of religious imagery.

Q & A

What is the significance of the cycle of life in Ancient Egyptian mythology?

The cycle of life in Ancient Egyptian mythology is closely associated with the story of Isis and Osiris. Their myth is one of the oldest known and it influenced spiritual beliefs, power structures, and gender roles in Ancient Egypt. The story encompasses themes of creation, death, resurrection, and the afterlife, which were central to the Egyptians' understanding of life.

What role do Isis and Osiris play in the afterlife according to the script?

Isis and Osiris are depicted as powerful deities in the afterlife. Isis is seen as the mother of Pharaohs and the goddess of protection, while Osiris is the king of the underworld. They appear throughout funerary texts and art, guiding and judging the souls of the deceased.

What is the significance of King Tutankhamun's tomb in relation to the story of Isis and Osiris?

The carvings in King Tutankhamun's tomb depict the young Pharaoh's journey to the afterlife, where he is welcomed by Isis and Osiris. This imagery underscores the importance of these deities in the Egyptian belief system and their role in guiding the souls of the deceased to the afterlife.

How did the creator God Atum influence the family tree of the Egyptian gods?

Atum is considered the creator of Shu and Tefnut, who are the parents of Geb and Nut. Geb and Nut, in turn, gave birth to Isis, Osiris, Set, and Nephthys. This lineage shows how Atum's creation extended to the major deities of the Egyptian pantheon.

What were the contributions of Osiris and Isis to Egyptian society?

Osiris was credited with bringing law, farming, religion, and education to the people, essentially creating society. Isis, on the other hand, was known for introducing medicine, healing, and beer brewing. Together, they symbolized order and the nurturing aspects of life.

How did Set's actions against Osiris reflect his role in Egyptian mythology?

Set, who represented chaos, was known for causing storms, war, and general malaise. His most infamous act was the murder of his brother Osiris, which demonstrated his destructive nature and his role as a disruptor of order.

What is the significance of the chest in the story of Osiris?

The chest, designed by Set to fit Osiris, was used to trap and kill Osiris. It symbolizes the treachery and deceit of Set. Later, the chest merged with a cedar tree, becoming a pillar that symbolized stability in Egyptian architecture.

How did Isis manage to revive Osiris and what was the outcome?

Isis found Osiris' body, reassembled it, and used her magic to briefly revive him. Despite the loss of Osiris' penis, which was eaten by a fish, she managed to conceive an heir with him. Osiris was then properly buried and ascended to rule the afterlife.

What role did Horus play in the continuation of the story of Osiris and Isis?

Horus, the son of Isis and Osiris, was raised in hiding by Isis. He eventually defeated Set in a great battle, symbolizing the triumph of order over chaos, and assumed his rightful rule over Egypt.

How did the story of Isis and Osiris influence Egyptian burial practices?

The story of Isis and Osiris, particularly Isis' efforts to protect and restore Osiris' body, informed the Egyptian practice of mummification. It emphasized the importance of preserving the body intact for the afterlife and the belief that the body should be buried in its entirety.

What is the significance of the Pyramid Texts in relation to Osiris and the afterlife?

The Pyramid Texts, the oldest religious writings in the world, reference Osiris as the king and judge of the afterlife. They provide a guide for the deceased to reach paradise, emphasizing the role of Osiris in the weighing of the heart and the judgment of the spirit.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 The Myth of Isis and Osiris

The story of Isis and Osiris is a foundational myth of Ancient Egypt, influencing spiritual beliefs, power structures, and gender roles. The myth includes themes of sibling rivalry, shape-shifting, true love, and the dramatic elements of Osiris being murdered by his brother Set, his body being dismembered, and Isis's quest to reassemble and revive him. This myth significantly impacted Ancient Egyptian culture, including the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt and burial practices.

05:03

🧩 The Creation of the First Mummy

Isis's search for and reassembly of Osiris's body marked the creation of the first mummy. This act influenced Egyptian mummification practices, ensuring the dead were buried intact to enter the afterlife properly. Osiris's story also impacted the design of coffins and burial rituals, emphasizing the importance of a complete body for the journey to the underworld.

⚖️ Osiris, the Judge of the Afterlife

Osiris's role as the judge of the afterlife was central to Ancient Egyptian beliefs. The Pyramid Texts, Coffin Texts, and the Book of the Dead guided the deceased through the challenges of the afterlife, including the weighing of the heart against the Feather of Truth. This judgment process highlighted the importance of living a virtuous life to gain a favorable outcome in the afterlife.

🧙‍♀️ The Powers and Influence of Isis

Isis was revered for her magical powers, including healing, protection, and shapeshifting. Her influence extended to various aspects of life, including medicine, agriculture, and motherhood. Isis's worship spread beyond Egypt, with temples dedicated to her across North Africa, Europe, and Rome. Her role as a powerful goddess also reflected the elevated status of women in Ancient Egyptian society.

🔮 The Legacy of Isis and Osiris

The legacy of Isis and Osiris is evident in various religious texts, burial practices, and cultural traditions. Their story underscored the belief in the interconnectedness of life and death and the ongoing influence of divine protection and guidance. The myth also highlighted the cultural significance of maintaining connections between the living and the dead, ensuring the preservation of memory and spiritual continuity.

Keywords

💡Isis and Osiris

Isis and Osiris are central figures in Ancient Egyptian mythology, representing themes of life, death, and resurrection. Isis is the goddess of protection and motherhood, while Osiris is the king of the underworld and god of the afterlife. Their myth informs the spiritual beliefs, power structures, and gender roles of Ancient Egypt, as shown in the script where Isis' search for Osiris and their son's victory over Set symbolize the cycle of life and death.

💡Cycle of Life

The cycle of life in Ancient Egyptian mythology begins and ends with Isis and Osiris. This concept reflects the interconnectedness of life, death, and rebirth, which is a recurring theme in the script. Osiris' death and resurrection as the king of the afterlife highlight this cycle, emphasizing that death is not the end but a transition to another realm.

💡Funerary Texts

Funerary texts are ancient writings used to guide the dead through the afterlife, such as the Pyramid Texts, Coffin Texts, and the Book of the Dead. In the script, these texts illustrate the importance of Osiris and Isis in ensuring safe passage to the afterlife. They contain spells and guidelines that depict Osiris as the judge in the afterlife, reinforcing the belief that life continues beyond death.

💡Set

Set is the god of chaos and disorder in Ancient Egyptian mythology, representing the opposite of Osiris' order and civilization. In the script, Set's jealousy leads him to murder Osiris, symbolizing the eternal struggle between order and chaos. His actions and the ensuing conflict with Horus are metaphors for political and social strife in Egypt, including the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt.

💡Afterlife

The afterlife is a fundamental concept in Ancient Egyptian religion, where the soul's journey continues beyond death. Osiris, as the king of the underworld, plays a crucial role in this belief system. The script describes the journey of the deceased through trials and judgments, such as the weighing of the heart against the Feather of Truth, to reach paradise. This illustrates the moral and ethical framework guiding Egyptian society.

💡Mummification

Mummification is the process of preserving the body for the afterlife, reflecting the Egyptian belief in bodily integrity after death. In the script, Isis' reassembly of Osiris' body is considered the first act of mummification, emphasizing the importance of preserving the deceased for their journey in the afterlife. This practice underscores the significance of death rituals and the belief in life after death.

💡Horus

Horus is the son of Isis and Osiris, known as the god of the sky and kingship. He represents the triumph of good over evil, as depicted in the script where he defeats Set to claim his rightful place as ruler of Egypt. Horus' victory symbolizes the restoration of order and justice, serving as a metaphor for the political unity and stability of Egypt.

💡The Feather of Truth

The Feather of Truth is a symbol of Ma'at, the concept of truth, balance, and order in Ancient Egyptian belief. During the judgment in the Hall of Truth, Osiris weighs the heart of the deceased against this feather to determine their worthiness to enter the afterlife. This concept, as highlighted in the script, reflects the moral values and ethical standards that guided Egyptian life and governance.

💡Djed

The Djed is a symbol of stability and strength in Egyptian iconography, often associated with Osiris. In the script, the Djed represents the pillar containing Osiris' imprisoned body, symbolizing his enduring presence and resilience. This symbol is prevalent in Egyptian art and architecture, signifying the foundation of society and the continuity of life.

💡Isis' Magic

Isis' magic is a key aspect of her character, embodying her power to heal, protect, and transform. The script highlights her magical abilities, such as shape-shifting and reviving Osiris, illustrating her role as a protector and nurturer. Her magic signifies the potential for change and renewal, reinforcing her status as a revered and powerful deity in Egyptian mythology.

Highlights

The myth of Isis and Osiris is one of the oldest known myths, shaping spiritual beliefs, power structures, and gender roles in Ancient Egypt and beyond.

In 1922, the unsealing of King Tutankhamun's tomb revealed carvings showing the young Pharaoh welcomed by Isis and Osiris in the afterlife.

Isis and Osiris were pivotal deities in Ancient Egyptian funerary texts and art, influencing burial practices and the conceptualization of the afterlife.

The story of Isis and Osiris begins with Atum, the creator god, and traces a formidable family tree involving Geb, Nut, Set, and Nephthys.

Osiris, the firstborn, became ruler of the earth, bringing law, farming, religion, and education to the people, while Isis contributed medicine, healing, and beer brewing.

Set's jealousy and desire for chaos led to him trapping Osiris in an ornate chest and flinging it into the Nile, where it eventually merged with a cedar tree in Byblos.

Isis's relentless quest to find and revive Osiris, including retrieving his scattered body parts, highlights her determination and magical prowess.

The image of Osiris' body within the cedar tree became the djed, a symbol of stability in Egyptian architecture.

Isis's recreation of Osiris' penis and their conception of an heir, Horus, illustrate her resourcefulness and the importance of lineage.

Osiris's resurrection as the king of the afterlife (Duat) and the epic battle between Horus and Set symbolize the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt.

Isis's actions set precedents for Egyptian burial practices, including the importance of laying the dead to rest on Egyptian soil and mummification techniques.

The Pyramid Texts, Coffin Texts, and the Book of the Dead provide detailed guides for navigating the afterlife, with Osiris and Isis playing central roles.

Isis's widespread worship as the Protectress and Mother of All Pharaohs underscores her significance in both life and death.

The elevated role of Isis reflects the autonomy and high status of women in Ancient Egypt, who had rights over marriage, property, and could hold various professional roles.

The myth of Isis and Osiris, documented in various ancient texts and later classical histories, illustrates the ancient belief in the porous boundaries between life and death.

Transcripts

For the Ancient Egyptians, the cycle of life  itself began and ended with Isis and Osiris.  

Their story is one of the oldest known myths, and  it informed spiritual beliefs, power structures,  

and gender roles in Ancient Egypt and beyond. And  who wouldn’t be drawn to a tale that has it all?

And by all, I mean devious party tricks,  sibling rivalry, shape-shifting quests,  

true love – and a missing penis.

In 1922, the unsealing of King Tutankhamun’s  tomb opened a portal to Ancient Egypt.

In  the burial chamber, carvings on the wall show  the young Pharaoh traveling to the afterlife.  

Here he is welcomed by Isis, mother  of Pharaohs and goddess of protection,  

and Osiris, king of the underworld. Two of Egypt’s most powerful Gods,  

Isis and Osiris appear throughout funerary  texts and art. King Tut’s iconic death mask  

bears Osiris’ likeness, while symbols  of Iksis are etched across his coffin. 

The influence of these two deities  extends far beyond mummies and tombs. 

Long before Isis and Osiris,  there was the creator God Atum.  

Some accounts identify him as the  creator of Shu, god of dry air,  

and Tefnut, goddess of moisture, who were the  parents of Geb, the earth, and Nut, the sky. 

Other versions say that Atum fashioned Geb  and Nut himself, separating earth from sky  

when he discovered their illicit affair.  Either way, it’s a formidable family tree. 

Geb and Nut had four children:  Isis, Osiris, Set, and Nephthys.

These deities paired off in the womb, with  Isis and Osiris falling for each other  

and Set and Nephthys forming their own bond. As first born, Osiris became ruler of the earth.  

He was essentially the creator of society,  who brought law, farming, religion,  

and education to the people. Not to be outdone,  Isis brought medicine, healing…and beer brewing. 

If Osiris stood for order, Set stood for  chaos. Even with the restrained Nephthys  

by his side, he couldn’t contain  his desire to destroy his brother.

Set was known for causing storms,  war, and general malaise.  

But his most vicious plan began with a party. At this gathering, Set produced an ornate  

chest and proposed a game: whoever could fit  inside the chest, could keep it. All the Gods  

tried to squeeze in, but none succeeded – for Set  had designed the chest for Osiris’ body alone.  

As his brother settled in, Set slammed the  chest shut, sealed it, and flung it in the Nile. 

As Set seized power over Egypt, the chest floated  down the Nile and washed up at the kingdom of Byblos. Here it merged with the trunk of a cedar tree,

which the King promptly cut down and used to prop up his palace - not knowing that Osiris’ body was inside. 

The image of this pillar containing the  imprisoned God became the djed , a symbol  

of stability in Egyptian architecture. Back with the Gods, things were anything  

but stable. Furious, Isis vowed to find her  husband and put an end to Set’s rule. She and  

Nephthys took flight as falcons, questioning  everyone they could find for news of Osiris. 

Eventually, a group of children  pointed them in the right direction.  

Landing on the shores of Byblos, Isis transformed  into a human and set about charming the palace  

maids--eventually gaining the favor of the queen. Now an undercover nanny, Isis took to bathing the  

infant prince in fire in order to instill some  godly strength – but when the king discovered her  

actions he was so terrified that he promised  to give her anything in exchange for safety.

Of course, Isis demanded the chest. She brought Osiris’ body back to the  

banks of the Nile, hiding it in the reeds  until she could figure out how to revive him.  

But Set found the body, hacking it into fourteen  pieces and scattering them across Egypt. 

Once again, Isis set out in search of Osiris.  

She soon tracked down thirteen parts of the  body, which she lovingly stitched back together.

But they had a little problem: Osiris’  penis had been eaten by a fish. 

Isis had come too far to be thwarted by this. Some  say that she fashioned a new member for Osiris,  

with others adding that she drew out his  last sexual powers with her beating wings. 

Either way, the two used Osiris’ final moments on  earth to conceive an heir. By the power of Isis,  

Osiris was briefly revived, given a proper burial,  and sent safely to the realm of the dead. 

Here he was resurrected as the king of the afterlife,  or Duat, where he would rule for eternity. 

In the wake of Osiris’ departure, Isis raised  their son Horus in hiding. Under her guidance,  

he grew into a strapping young God who defeated  Set to assume his rightful rule over Egypt. 

The epic battle between Horus and Set was  sometimes used as a metaphor for the war between  

Upper and Lower Egypt, with Horus’ triumph  standing for the unification of the region. 

The story served as a guide to death for all  Ancient Egyptians. Isis’ retrieval of the chest  

from Byblos informed the belief that Egyptians  should only be laid to rest on Egyptian soil,  

and the second part of her quest highlights the  importance of protecting the body after death. 

Isis painstakingly searched for  and reassembled Osiris’ body,  

thus constructing what can be  considered the first mummy.

Her re-creation of the penis corresponds to  the belief that the body should be buried  intact.

During mummification, embalmers  would construct absent body parts for the dead. 

This ensured that they would travel to  the underworld in the best possible shape.

For King Tut, this meant being buried  with his penis propped at a 90-degree angle,

a feature which scholars have  linked to Osiris’ postmortem fertility. 

Embalmers often placed the  dead in decorated coffins,  

which eventually became kanthropoid or  human-shaped to resemble Osiris’ chest.

Many bore the face of the God, and were  decorated with the wings of Isis and Nephthys. 

The Pyramid texts of the Old Kingdom frame Osiris  as king and judge of the afterlife These writings  

were a set of utterances and hymns, intended for  royalty to ensure safe passage to the afterlife. 

To reach paradise, or the field of reeds, you  had to meet with Osiris in the Hall of Truth.  

Here he weighed your heart against  the Feather of Truth,  

which you’d hopefully kept nice and light by  steering clear of bad thoughts and actions.  

If your heart wasn’t weighed  down, Osiris let you pass. 

This encounter between god and mortals was  extended in the Coffin Texts of the Middle  

Kingdom, which emphasize Osiris as the  judge of all people regardless of class. 

In the New Kingdom, which occurred between  the sixteenth and eleventh century BCE,  

the Book of the Dead became the  most popular guide to the afterlife. 

A collection of funerary spells and  guidelines written over hundreds of years,  

the Book guided the dead through face-offs  with demons, confessions to Gods,  

the weighing of the heart, and other judgments  of the spirit. Isis and Osiris appear throughout  

these texts, judging or guiding the  dead through their spiritual reckonings.

While Osiris reveals the challenges and promises  of the afterlife, Isis stands for life itself.  

From food and water to the nourishing  powers of medicine and maternal instincts,  

Isis presided over living things. She was widely worshiped as the Protectress  

and Mother of All Pharaohs, and is referred  to as “The Great One” in the Pyramid texts.

Her behavior following the death  of Osiris epitomizes the ingenuity  

and perseverance that she was beloved for.

This triumph indicates her  possession of mighty magic,  

which allows her to shapeshift, revive  the dead, and protect the vulnerable. 

The awe-inspiring powers of Isis can be linked  to the elevated role of women in Ancient  

Egypt. Women had autonomy over  marriage, property, and finances,  

and could be Pharaohs in their own right. Non-royal women also served as scribes, doctors,  

and religious officials, carrying out different  forms of protection that Isis also embodied. 

Over time, Isis became the supreme Egyptian God.  Her temples were erected across North Africa, as  

well as Crete, Pompeii, and Northern Europe. The  Roman cult of Isis is still shrouded in mystery,  

but we do know that her followers  launched a model ship filled with  

offerings to the Goddess every year. In the classical world, she was more  

generally associated with the Goddess of  food and fertility Demeter, and her cult  

in Rome came to rival that of Christianity. It’s also been noted that Christian iconography  

of the Madonna and child borrows from the  image of Isis protecting the infant Horus.

From mummification to mothering, she  informed a host of practices and ideals. 

From temple paintings to burial  practices to secret rituals,  

Osiris and Isis infused ancient  iconography and beliefs.

Our knowledge of their story myth comes  from a similarly diverse range of sources. 

Found on the walls of ancient pyramids - and  aptly named the Pyramid Texts - the oldest  

religious writings in the world reference the  grisly murder of Osiris. Later texts like the  

Chester Beatty Papyrus and the Shabaka Stone also allude to this event and its fallout,  

while classical historians like Plutarch and Diodorus Siculus wrote their own versions of the myth. 

While the premature death of Osiris and his  separation from Isis could be seen as a tragic  

tale, the story reveals the Ancient Egyptian  belief that the boundaries between material  

and spiritual, life and death, are porous. For the Ancient Egyptians, Osiris offered  

a poignant reminder that life  was fragile – even for a God.

As the great protector, Isis offered  guidance on that fragile path  

and ensured that the channels between  the living and the lost were always open.