Observations placeholder
Ancient Egyptian - Osiris and its symbolism
Identifier
004122
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
Osiris is the mythological father of the god Horus, whose conception is described in the Osiris myth, a central myth in ancient Egyptian belief.
The myth described Osiris as having been killed by his brother Set. Isis his wife, joined the fragmented pieces of Osiris, but the only body part missing was the phallus. Isis fashioned a golden phallus, and briefly brought Osiris back to life by use of a spell that she learned from her father. This spell gave her time to become pregnant by Osiris before he again died.
Isis later gave birth to Horus. As such, Horus was born after Osiris' 'resurrection'.
The myth describes a rebirth experience - resurrection is rebirth - the making of a 'god' by the symbolic dismemberment process. What makes the myth interesting however, is that 'gods' cannot produce children. In the process of 'annihilation' that often takes place as well, they become humans denied the ability to procreate - a true god does not have children.
But in the myth, Isis finds a 'temporary' phallus in order to produce a child. The implication is that Osiris was a human being - a shaman - who underwent the normal terrifying rebirth process helped by 'Set' who may or may not have been a spirit helper or even his Higher spirit. From that point on, tradition dictated that he had no children, he may even have become impotent through the process, but his wife using a 'spell' [of which many were known in those days] cures his impotence and they have a son.
A description of the experience
