Osiris

Osiris was the eldest son of Nut and Geb, who also gave birth to Isis, Seth and nephthys. He ruled the world wisely, he bought mankind the gifts of civilisation. This all came to an end when his jealous brother Seth, so that he could take control of the throne and his sister/wife Isis.
He tricked Osiris into lying into a superbly crafted chest, which once inside became his coffin. Seth and his henchmen sealed it, and cast it into the Nile, where it drifted to the beaches of Byblos in Lebanon. Grief stricken, Isis searched far and wide for her brother's corpse, when she finally came to Lebanon. She then brought her husbands mortal remains back to Egypt and hid them. But Seth found the corpse and cut it into fourteen pieces, which he cast into the Nile. Isis refusing to accept defeat, found the pieces and put them back together, recreating the body of Osiris, who was mummified by Anubis.
Osiris then became the ruler of the dead, who could, by following his teachings, also attain eternal happiness.

Back to Egyptian Religion page

Back to Ancient Egypt main page