We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Religion

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

In Egyptian Mythology, Who is Isis?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 25,881
Share

In Egyptian mythology, Isis is the goddess of fertility. She is also a guardian of the dead, and she allegedly has powerful magical abilities, including the ability to heal people. Historically, the goddess was often associated with the moon, which sometimes appeared in representations of her, typically held in a headdress that also included the horns of a cow.

According to legend, Isis was mortal once, but she tricked the sun god Ra into giving her some of his powers. She is also described as the sister to Osiris, as well as his wife. The name “Isis” means “Queen of the throne,” linking her with Osiris in his role as ruler, and in some representations, she wears an empty throne as a headdress, symbolizing the severed link between herself and Osiris.

The most well-known tale about Isis involves the death and resurrection of Osiris. According to legend, Osiris was murdered by his brother Set, and brought back to life by Isis so that the two could have a son, Horus. Horus was hidden until adulthood so that he could take revenge on Set, while Osiris was torn apart by Set in a fit of rage. Although the goddess was able to reassemble her husband and bring him back to life again, he was officially considered dead, and sent to the underworld.

Many statues of Isis show her suckling or holding the infant Horus, reinforcing her role as a goddess of fertility, and in some regions she was worshiped as a goddess of childbirth as well. In addition to being the goddess of fertility, she was also one of the goddesses who looked after the dead, tending to the canopic jar that holds the liver, and she was viewed more generally as a goddess of protection and defense because she watched over the dead.

In addition to being venerated in Egypt, Isis was also a figure of worship in Greece and Rome. Isis cults made their way to Greece around the third century BCE, and reached Rome not long afterwards. These cults often acted out the story of Isis and Osiris annually, as a symbol of rebirth and fertility, and by all accounts, their rites were quite raucous. Worship endured through the sixth century CE, although such cults had largely been stamped out by then.

Some people have suggested that the story of Isis has some links with the story of Mary and Christ in Christianity, and it is possible that early Christians were influenced by the myths. Certainly, both are mother figures, and some forced converts may have found comfort in viewing Mary as a version of Isis.

Share
CulturalWorld.org is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a CulturalWorld.org researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
By anon303563 — On Nov 14, 2012

No, she wasn't half human, half cow.

By StormyKnight — On Sep 30, 2010

Horus was the falcon headed god.

By CarrotIsland — On Sep 30, 2010

@chrisinbama: Not technically. There were nine original deities (Goddesses and Gods). Isis was one of the Ennead which was one of the nine deities. She was the Goddess of magic, love, healing, and fertility and was closely associated with the prayers of women. She was known to be the protector of the Pharaoh. Incest was acceptable in those times so she married her brother Osiris.

Goddesses and Gods were often depicted as being part animal and part human. Isis was most frequently depicted with the body of a human and the head of a cow. The cow was revered and worshipped.

By chrisinbama — On Sep 30, 2010

Wasn't she half human, half cow?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.culturalworld.org/in-egyptian-mythology-who-is-isis.htm
Copy this link
CulturalWorld.org, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

CulturalWorld.org, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.