Dr Archana Verma
Isis/Photo source – Wikimedia
Isis was a goddess of Egypt associated with funerary rituals. She is mentioned as resurrecting her brother Osiris. She first appears during Old Kingdom (c 2686 –2181 BCE). She produces Horus the god associated with kingship. As protector of Horus, she was regarded as the divine mother of Pharaohs. As a ruler of afterlife, she also helped people with spells an magical chants.
From New Kingdom times (c 1550 – 1070 BCE), she began to subsume the traits of Hathor, the ancient goddess who had been the ruler of kingship. In a previous post, we have talked about her. Isis bean to be depicted with a combination of her throne like crown and the golden disc of Hathor. She acquired many traits of various other goddesses.
During Hellenistic period (c 330–23 BCE) Isis began to be worshipped by Greeks, who had begun to rule over Egypt. Greco-Romans evolved festivals in her honour. It was even believed that she represented all divine feminne powers.
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