The Egyptian Goddess Isis of Magic, Wisdom and Fertility
Like in many other ancient cultures, the Egyptians also dedicated a deity for healing and wisdom.
In Egyptian Mythology, Isis is the perpetual goddess of magical healing, wisdom, and fertility.
Isis is a perpetual goddess who is being worshipped up to this day. She even serves as a patron goddess in some modern religions.
For most, she serves as an eternal inspiration for women’s empowerment. Instead of accepting ruination or fighting her nemesis, she chooses to use her power and wisdom to achieve her heart’s desire.
Let us find out why the Egyptian goddess Isis is still named even in modern times.
Isis goddess meaning of her name
The name of the Egyptian goddess Isis translates to “throne” or “Queen of the Throne,” a fitting name for who is the mother of the god of kings Horus and wife to Osiris, the first king of Egypt.
As the female embodiment for creation, Isis is also being worshipped as the goddess of fertility, childbirth, motherhood, and protection.
A statue of the Egyptian goddess Isis with his son Horus
The Egyptian goddess Isis is an important figure in this mythology as she forms part of the Great Ennead, a group of deities worshiped at ancient Heliopolis.
One of her most famous followers is Cleopatra who believed that she acquired her cunning and intelligence from worshipping the goddess.
Pictures of Cleopatra at the left and the Egyptian goddess Isis at the right
History of the goddess Isis and some myths
Isis is the daughter of Geb, the egyptian god of the earth, and Nut, the egyptian goddess of the sky.
She is also the queen and consort of her brother Osiris, which is Isis goddess husband too. Together, they performed their duties in governing the human realm and have created a paradise built on order and equality.
The people of Egypt were happy and satisfied with them as rulers of the land. It was told that Osiris became the ruler of the realm shortly after the world’s creation.
As the people had no knowledge about agriculture and it was the god of the Underworld and the Nile, Osiris and the Egyptian goddess of fertility Isis who taught them how to farm and cultivate the rich soil near the river Nile.
The land was bountiful and the people were happy and satisfied. However, things were to change…
Story of Isis Egyptian goddess in The myth of Osiris
Things changed when Osiris’ brother Set, devised a plan to usurp the throne.
Set, as the god of storms, disorder, and violence, was not happy with how Osiris ruled the realm. The god of disorder wanted to bring chaos into the kingdom by placing himself on the throne.
First, he tried to banish Osiris from the kingdom by tricking the god to lie in the coffin that he prepared for him. He was successful in banishing Osiris from the kingdom and that eventually led to the god’s demise.
But the loving goddess Isis searched far and wide for her husband. When she finally found his husband Osiris, he brought his body back to Egypt so that she can reincarnate him.
When his brother Set learned about Osiris’ return, he cut him into 14 pieces and scattered his pieces all over Egypt so that Isis can not bring him back to life.
Although this filled Isis with horror, it did not stop her from pursuing her plans. She searched and found the cut pieces of Osiris except for the phallus. Although she was able to resurrect Osiris with the help of Anubis and Thoth, what she brought back was not the same husband that she knew and loved.
Osiris returned as a deficient and inferior god incapable of ruling a kingdom. To produce an heir, the Egyptian goddess Isis extracted his seed so that she can bear his child who will rule in all of Egypt.
After that moment, the Egyptian goddess of fertility Isis was known for her powers of magical healing and fertility.
A statue portraying the appearance of the goddess Isis
Powers of the Egyptian goddess Isis
The magical ability to heal and resurrect is the power that Isis is most known for. Her power as a healer is far stronger than any of the Egyptian deities. With it, she was able to revive Osiris back to life.
According to the ancient Egyptian legends, when the great god Ra was bitten by the venomous sacred serpent that Isis placed on his path, he called on every deity to aid him. But no god or goddess could heal Ra.
Only the Egyptian goddess Isis had the ability to cure Ra using her power and incantation.
Symbology and appearance of the Egyptian goddess Isis
The most popular depiction of Isis is of a winged goddess with a throne headdress, an ancient hieroglyphic symbol in one hand, and a papyrus staff in the other.
Isis goddess symbols: the wings
Isis’ widespread wings symbolize protection both for the living and the dead. The goddess is also sometimes depicted entirely or in part, a kite which is a bird of prey.
When Isis was mourning Osiris, she transformed herself into a kite to weep. The shrill cry of these birds sounds like grieving women and the reason why ancient Egyptians associate the creatures with mourning.
One of the main Isis goddess symbols, the wings
Isis goddess symbols: the throne headdress
The throne headdress of the Egyptian goddess Isis symbolizes her role as the mother goddess and queen of all Egypt.
Isis goddess symbols: ankh and papyrus
On one hand, Isis holds a hieroglyphic symbol known as ankh. The ankh sign takes the shape of a cross with a loop on top. It is a sign that symbolizes life and reawakening in the afterlife.
The Egyptian goddess Isis is also depicted holding a papyrus staff which is the ultimate symbol of life in Egyptian mythology.
The papyrus is a tall aquatic grasslike plant that grows in the Nile where all life in the realm begins and flourishes.
Pictures of the Egyptian goddess Isis
Some additional facts about Isis, the Egyptian goddess of fertility, magic, and wisdom
The goddess Isis is one of the most important deities in Egyptian mythology. She is considered to be the divine mother and a source of life itself.
Mortals can relate to her for she represents a typical wife and mother. She was a kind queen to her people and a supportive queen to Osiris. But when Osiris suffered an ill fate, she stood up and used her power to restore him.
When Egypt was in dire need of a good king to free them from Set, she produced an heir who would restore the glory of the realm and its people.
She was revered as a virgin mother for she conceived Horus without finding the phallus of Osiris.
Although the followers of Isis have increased and spread throughout the Roman Empire, her cult grew even larger in numbers when Cleopatra VII ruled over Egypt.
As customary to Egyptian queens, Cleopatra transformed herself into the embodiment of the Egyptian goddess Isis. She did not only dress like the goddess but also ruled using the ancient sacred principle.
