Osiris

King of the Dead.

Cult Center: Busiris, later Abydos.

Attributes: Supreme god and judge of the dead. The symbol of resurrection and eternal life. Provider of fertility and prosperity to the living.

Representation: A bearded man wearing white mummy wrappings. Wearing the atef crown and holding the symbols of supreme power, the flail and crook. His skin is green to represent vegetation or red to represent the earth. See also the Osiris legend.

Osiris is shown as a man with a beard wearing white mummy wrappings. His crown is the white crown of Upper Egypt surrounded by red feathers. He holds the symbols of supreme power, the flail and crook. His skin is green to represent vegetation. He was the God of the Dead. You would expect that such a god would be gloomy or even evil, but the Egyptians thought about death a lot. They mummified their dead and buried them with their belongings so they could enjoy themselves in the afterlife.

Osiris ruled over the Egyptians and taught them farming. His brother Seth had always hated him, and wanted to kill him. Seth made a beautiful box, like a coffin, made to the exact measurements of Osiris. Then Seth invited Osiris and other people to a great feast. When everyone had finished eating, Seth displayed the box, and said that he'd give it to anyone who fitted inside. Everyone tried, but only Osiris fitted. While he was still inside, Seth and his friends quickly slammed on the lid and threw the box in the Nile river. But what happened next? Read the Osiris Legend.

Copyright © 2010 Tim Stouse
Last modified: December 10, 2010

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