#thoth worship

[just-a-witchy-guy]

Blog Re-Intro!!

Heyo! Welcome to chaos

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About me

- Call me Tristen, Percy, or Myth

- I use he/they/it/wisp/glass/void/soul pronouns

- I have ADHD, so i tend to jump around different topics a lot

- I'm a Hellenic polytheist and beginner norse and roman polytheist!

- I've been a practicing witch for about 3 years

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This Blog is for

- Witchcraft

- Honoring the Gods I worship

- Hellenic/Norse/Roman polytheism

- Maybe folk catholicism and italian folk magic

So welcome to my blog!

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Gods I Worship

Hellenic:

Ares (Im an Ares Devotee)

Aphroditus

Apollo

Athena

Dionysus

Hermes

Hestia

Persephone

Zeus

I honor all of the Theoi I can!!

Heathen:

Skadi

Odin

Roman:

Juno

Faunus

Luciferos

Janus (At least currently researching him more)

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DNI fucking assholes (TERFS, nazis, ect.) I will laugh at you cause y'all are pathetic

[wanderingskemetic]

🧮Subtle Djehuty Worship📝

Greatly inspired by @khaire-traveler's wonderful subtle worship series, which can be found here.

Write letters to people even if you don't send them, they could be to him

Keep a notebook of your writings

Study especially for fun/out of curiosity

Doodle, especially him and his symbols

Read books you like

Learn a new language particularly those related to Egypt and it's history

Do some subtle heka or other magic

Develop a coded language and write prayers, devotions, etc. to him in this (only if you feel it's safe)

Have ibis, baboon, papyrus, or moon imagry

Carry a picture of him in your wallet, pocket, phone case, etc. or as a phone or computer wallpaper

Make a playlist or listen to songs that remind you of him or you think he'd like

Learn about and work to uphold Ma'at

Make a collage/moodboard/pinterest board/similar collection of photos and images you associate with him, especially if some of the images are your own

Learn about healthy conflict resolution skills; try to implement these in your next conflict

Learn about and practice emotional regulation

Make a list of your personal goals; work towards achieving them one step at a time

Write down quotes you hear and enjoy

Invest in your studies both formal and informal; do homework, check out books from the library, save up to go to school, etc.

Donate to educational or medical focused nonprofits

Learn about different types of divination especially those that are less well known (bibliomancy, augury, pyromancy, etc.)

Greet him in the evening as the moon rises

Observe the phases of the moon, and learn what each one means

Keep a dream journal; try to interpret your dreams

Take your medications, if any; take medications as needed

Help others with their studies (form a study group, help a child with their homework, etc.)

Take care of your body physically to the best of your ability (shower, eat well, get a good amount of sleep, etc.)

Practice compromising with others and making compromises (within reason)

Keep a journal of your thoughts and different events

Use a planner or otherwise organize your day

Practice truthfulness and keep your promises

Take a walk in the moonlight (safely)

Invest in your future; set up a savings account, work on getting more exercise, find or spend time working on a hobby that brings you joy, etc.

Make your own paper or ink to write with; experiment with different papers, inks, and writing implements

Be curious about the world around you and the way things work; encourage yourself to question things

Doing activities in line with the lunar calendar

Assert your boundaries clearly; learn what your boundaries are

Sharpen your mind; play memory or mentally stimulating games

Work on communication skills; practice healthy forms of communication

Go to a museum

I may add more to this list in the future. Suggestions are always appreciated.

[akhret]

Prayer to Djehuty

Djehuty, the great scribe, bless my hand to master the arts as you have. Master of the quill, master of words, bless my words to become willful and imaginative. O’ wise one, grant me your wisdom to make my mind as sharp as a knife, as graceful as a gazelle, as fast as the striking cobra. Mightest and wisest of the gods, bless me on this day as I call out to you.

-Raet / Akhret

[saganssorcery]

✨🌒😸🌘✨

Artist: 🎨Inonibird 🔥🖌️ on DeviantArt ✨

[rainycraft]

There's something so comforting in knowing that no matter what, my deities will be there for me. I can go long periods without contacting them yet I know that as soon as I reach out again they'll be right there to support me!

[sehetep-shenwer]

Trying to get back into worship

Im hotep y'all

Kind of in a bad spot right now and I want to strengthen my connections with the Netjeru I worship. My depressions been hitting bad and with my new job, I haven't had the energy or motivation to do anything else really.

I also feel I've been selfish with the Netjer, like taking more than giving. Asking for too much without giving something in return.

I this blog as mainly a digital grimoire and a digital altar for my Netjer, but I would like to do something more than that for Them.

I live in an apartment so I can't light candles or anything like that. If anybody has any advice or ideas, please let me know and may your chosen Netjer bless you with love and luck!

I currently worship the following Netjeru:

-Anubis

-Bastet

-Set

-Horus

-Thoth

-Hathor

-Sobek

-Sekhmet

Thank you!

[archie006]

Hi! Thought I'd do an update since it's been awhile.

Current deities are Anubis, Set, Sekhmet, Thoth, Sobek, Ra, Ares, Aphrodite, and Baphomet. I've been very in touch with the Netjeru recently. I talk to more than just the ones I worship, especially Osiris, Wepwawet, Khonshu, and Nut. I'll probably post an altar update sooner or later when I get the chance.

If anyone has any questions, I'll gladly answer! I love talking about my deities and helping others :)

Dua Netjer 🫶

[apollotarot]

15 Essential Deities in Egyptian Mythology

Ancient Egyptian mythology is one of human history’s oldest and most fascinating belief systems. With a pantheon of gods and goddesses representing various aspects of life and the universe, the Egyptians created a rich and complex mythology that continues to captivate people today.

Here are some of the most significant Egyptian deities and what they represent:

Isis: Known as the “mother goddess,” Isis was associated with motherhood, fertility, and magic. She was also revered as the goddess of nature and healing.

Ma’at: As the goddess of truth, justice, and balance, Ma’at was an important figure in Egyptian mythology. She was responsible for maintaining the universe’s balance and upholding the laws of morality and ethics.

Ptah: Ptah was the god of craftsmen and creation, responsible for creating the universe and all living beings. He was also considered a protector of artists and artisans.

Osiris: One of the most important gods in Egyptian mythology, Osiris was the god of the underworld, fertility, and resurrection. He was believed to have been the first pharaoh and was responsible for teaching humanity about agriculture and civilization.

Seth: As the god of chaos and the desert, Seth was powerful and often feared figure in Egyptian mythology. He was also associated with storms, war, and violence.

Bastet: Known as the goddess of cats, Bastet was also associated with fertility, music, and dance. She was believed to protect homes and families from evil spirits and was often depicted with the head of a cat.

Thoth: Thoth was the god of wisdom, writing, and knowledge. He was responsible for inventing hieroglyphs and was believed to have written influential religious texts, like the Emerald Tablet.

Horus: As the god of the sky and kingship, Horus was an important figure in Egyptian mythology. He was believed to be the son of Osiris and Isis and was associated with the pharaohs of Egypt.

Sekhmet: Known as the goddess of war and healing, Sekhmet was often depicted as a lioness. She was believed to have the power to create and destroy and was called upon for protection during times of war.

Amun: Amun was the gods’ king and was associated with the sun and air. He was often depicted with a ram’s head and considered one of the Egyptian pantheon’s most potent and influential gods.

Ra: As the god of the sun and creation, Ra was a central figure in Egyptian mythology. He was believed to have created the world and was associated with the pharaohs of Egypt.

Hathor: Hathor was the goddess of love, beauty, and joy. She was associated with motherhood and fertility and was often depicted as a cow.

Nut: As the goddess of the sky, Nut was often depicted as a woman arching over the earth with her hands and feet touching the ground. She held up the stars and was considered a protector of the dead.

Geb: Geb was the god of the earth and was responsible for giving life to plants and animals. He was often depicted as a man lying on his back, with his wife Nut arched over him.

Khnum: Khnum was the god of creation and was associated with the Nile River. He was often depicted as a man with the head of a ram and was responsible for shaping humans out of clay.

Ancient Egyptian mythology features numerous intriguing deities, each symbolizing different life and universe elements. Even now, their tales remain captivating to many.

Keep exploring: 15 Essential Deities in Egyptian Mythology.

As you explore the world of Egyptian mythology, you may find yourself drawn to a particular deity and feel a connection to their power and energy. If that is the case, consider wearing a symbolic necklace as a reminder of its significance in your life.

A beautifully crafted necklace featuring an Egyptian deity can be a meaningful accessory that adds a touch of mystique to any outfit.

Wear a piece of Egyptian mythology with you wherever you go!

[maceofpentacles]

personal notes on working with different deities:

just as a disclaimer: a lot of these experiences happened outside of tumblr so just because i don’t post about these deities/have them listed in my bio or anything like that doesn’t mean i don’t respect them or reach out to them from time to time!! my relationship with deities will always be different than yours. respect is key.

thoth: egyptian god of wisdom, magic, and the moon

- the first deity i ever felt super called to

- very comforting energy, not too intimidating to communicate with

- genuinely wants what’s best for you

- so so helpful when it comes to personal growth and academic growth

- i tend to reach out to him when i feel lost in school work, he makes studying feel easy

- has helped me hone in on my intuition in divination readings

ares: greek god of war and courage

- dad,, he is very much a dad

- his guidance has made my confidence level do a complete 180° to be honest

- you don’t like confrontation? you let people walk all over you? yeah, not anymore bestie

- he’s also helped me make important decisions when i felt really lost

- has helped a lot with gender dysphoria to be honest

cernunnos: celtic/gaulish god of nature and fertility

- very calming presence,, feels very ancient and wise

- helpful with building one’s inner strength and value

- will make you listen to your instincts i’m so serious

- he makes me go outside when i’m feeling bad because fresh air always helps tbh

janus: roman god of beginnings and transitions

- started working with him quite recently but he’s helped me calm down about life and major events

- feels like a presence that’s kind of always there even when you don’t fully feel it

isis: egyptian goddess of healing and magic

- very motherly presence

- done some gnarly trauma healing with her help

- she’s helped me trust my own judgement and my own authority

- pushed me to not be so eager to please everyone around me

hecate: greek goddess of magic and witchcraft

- i’ve worked with her on some trauma stuff in the past

- i also call upon her for help in any baneful workings i do (not very often but still)

loki: norse god mischief

- has helped me with balancing work and play

- i usually turn to loki when i’m feeling bored with my practice/craft and he helps me change things up a bit

aphrodite: greek goddess of love and beauty

- i’ve done a few self love workings with her and they’ve helped me feel more confident about myself

- makes me appreciate the beauty of people

[theic-manic]

Me: "Surely this is a good sign"

Then I saw it.

A tree full of bin chickens (Ibises)

"Oh that surely can't be am omen"

But no... it was indeed an omen.

- Mass lay-offs at a department I worked for briefly until 2 weeks ago.

- Someone I know of having previously defrauded family is now on life support.

- News of a horrific motorcycle accident

So I recheck the Thoth lore...

Ibis appeared in the scenes of the divine trial in the Book of the Dead. He appeared before the balance, which weighed the heart of the deceased, and recorded the results, giving Thoth traits of justice and integrity.

Oh...

Note:

Greek mythology, the Ibis was connected with the god Hermes. This is because of the cultural interactions between the Greeks and the Egyptians. When the Greeks entered Egypt, at the start of the so-called Hellenistic Period, they recognized similarities between Egyptian deities and the pantheon of gods that they themselves worshipped. The god Thoth, seemed, to the Greeks, to be another form of their messenger god Hermes. Thoth was specifically referred to as Hermes Trismegistos, or “Hermes Thrice-great.” (16) Thus, Ibises became, themselves, symbols of the Greek god Hermes.

So yeah, it seems Hermes is having a moment right now...

Please, Hermes, protect emergency workers during their travels & help your travellers remain safe 🙏

I'm a Hermes and Apollo devotee, of course I see a Cow car towards the end of Apollo's and before the beginning of Hermes' prayers.

Near a crossroads, as a raven caws.

In a predominantly Greek neighbourhood.

Good morning Apollo and Hermes 🌞🪽

[wanderingskemetic]

Djehuty guides my pen

He who has inspired scribes for millennia I praise you!

Your words are perfect, they reflect ma'at

The Ennead is made glad by your writings

Seshat your beloved stands by your side

She smiles as your pen touches papyrus

Great lady of the library, I sing your praises!

You who records all knowledge

Nothing is forgotten under your careful eye

I would be lost without you

Dua twin scribes!

May my art honor you.

[talonabraxas]

RA ∆.∆∆ Talon Abraxas

A HYMN TO RA, WHEN HE RISES IN THE EAST.

Hail, thou Aten, thou lord of rays, who risest on the horizon day by day! Shine thou with thy beams of light upon the face of the Osiris Ani, the truth-speaker, who sings hymns to thee at dawn, and adores thee at eventide. Let his soul appear with thee in heaven. Let him sail out in the Matet Boat and arrive in port in the Seqtet Boat, and let him cleave his way among the stars that never vanish.

Homage to thee, O Her-aakhuti, who art Khepera, the self-created!

When thou risest and sendest forth thy beams upon the lands of the South and the North, thou art beautiful, yea beautiful, and all the gods rejoice when they see thee, the King of Heaven.

Nebt-Unnut (a goddess) is on thy head, her serpents are on thy head, and she takes her place before thee. Thoth stands in the bows of thy boat to destroy thy foes.

The denizens of the Tuat (Underworld) come to meet thee, they bow before thee in homage at the sight of thy Beautiful Form.

I would come before thee daily to be with thee and to behold thy Beautiful Aten (Disk). Let me be neither prevented nor repulsed.

Grant that when I look upon thy beauties my members may be made young again, even as are the members of thy favoured ones.

I am one who worshipped thee on earth. Let me enter the Eternal Land in the Everlasting Country. O my Lord, I beseech thee to decree this for me.

Homage to thee who risest as Ra on thy horizon and restest upon Maat!

Thou passest over the sky, every face watches thy course, thou thyself being unseen. Thou showest thyself at dawn and at eve daily.

The Seqtet Boat of thy Majesty goes forth mightily, thy beams fall upon every face, thy variegated lights and colours cannot be numbered, and cannot be told . . . .

One by thyself alone didst thou come into being from the primeval waters of Nunu (or Nu).

May I go forward as thou dost advance without pause, and dost in a moment pass over untold leagues and as thou sinkest to rest even so may I.

Thou art crowned with the majesty of thy beauties, thou dost fashion thy members as thou dost advance, and dost produce them without the pangs of labour in the form of Ra, and dost rise up into the heights.

Grant that I may come into the everlasting heaven and the mountain where thy favoured ones dwell. Let me join myself to those who are holy and perfect in the divine Underworld, and let me appear with them to behold thy beauties at eventide. I lift my hands to thee in adoration when thou the living One dost set. Thou art the Eternal Creator and art adored at thy setting in heaven.

I have given my heart to thee without wavering, O thou who art the mightiest of the gods . . .

[saganssorcery]

🎨Artist: Noha Tosson 🔥🖌️

[assistedbytherats]

<3

Walking your friends home as a devotional act to Hermes

Walking with a friend to their lectures as a devotional act to Hermes

Going somewhere for no reason other than to accompany them on their travels as a devotional act to Hermes

[antiquitiesandlabyrinths]

. . .Osiris

Osiris (Great and Beautiful is He) is the God of the Underworld; its King and Pharaoh ruling over the Duat. He is pictured here on the far left, His skin green and His body in mummiform. This is commonly how He is depicted; as a green-skinned, mummified man.

Son of Nut, the Sky Goddess, and Geb, the Earth God, Osiris was the first King of Egypt in accordance with Kemetic mythology, although there are stories that recount Geb, His father, being King before Him. There are a great deal of myths and stories that surround and involve Osiris, and I suppose it is important to at least skim over them before discussing hard facts about Him, as it gives some reference as to who He is and what the culture surrounding Him is like.

Osiris Myth

After the world was created, the Demiurge (who changes according to myth, and can be Neith, Ra, Amun, Ptah, or others) produces children; in the most popular form of this creation story, it is usually Ra who births the first Gods. They are Shu and Tefnut, Air and Moisture. Shu and Tefnut then form a union and birth two children of Their own: Nut and Geb, Sky and Earth. Nut and Geb were very much in love and refused to separate from each other, which, of course, caused a problem, because if the sky and the earth are eternally in contact, there is no space for anything to live and walk upon the earth. Ra made it so Nut and Geb were forever separated, by having Shu, air, stand atop Geb and hold Nut up as the sky. But Nut was already pregnant. When Ra discovered this, He was enraged, and forbade Nut from ever giving birth on any day of the year.

Nut cried to Djehuty (Thoth), and Thoth devised a plan. He went to Khonsu, God of the Moon, and set up a gamble, saying that every round of the game Senet Khonsu lost, He would have to give Nut some of His moonlight. Khonsu ended up losing so many times that Nut had enough moonlight for five days––five days that weren't in the calendar. This allowed Her to give birth on those five days, and on each day She had a different child; Ausir (Osiris), Wr-Heru (Horus the Elder), Sutekh (Set, Seth), Auset (Isis), and Nebet-Het (Nephthys). Nut and Geb were still forever separated by atmosphere (Shu), but the five Gods were birthed, and Osiris, as the eldest son, became King of the Living World.

As a side note, all Gods do have ancient Egyptian names which are different from Their Greek and now modern names. For convenience's sake, and to avoid confusion, I will use the names They are most known by; Their Greek/modern names. And as another side note, there are a lot of variations on this story. I will be piecing together a lot of different ideas but I will be leaving some things out for the sake of cohesion.

When Osiris came to Egypt, He found the people there to be chaotic and lawless. As King, He instituted laws and spread ma'at, which is truth, justice, harmony, and order. Egypt flourished under His rule and the people were incredibly happy, as all were equal, and with the fertility of the God-King, the crops were always bountiful and food was plenty. He brought not only law and prosperity, but also the right way to worship, and the teachings of agriculture.

Set, God of chaos, confusion, the desert, and of foreigners, and the youngest brother of the Ennead, grew to be quite jealous of His older brother. There are many variations and the most popular variation of this story comes from the end of the New Kingdom (1550-1070 BC), where Set fashions a fabulous coffin in the perfect measurements of Osiris, throws a party, and tells the party-goers that whomever the coffin fits may have the coffin as a gift. When Osiris fits perfectly, Set quickly shuts and bolts the coffin and throws it in the Nile (this version of the myth gives an origin to the idea that people who drowned in the Nile were holy). His coffin drifts downstream and into the Mediterranean, where it washes ashore in Phoenicia, in Byblos. The coffin wedges itself into a growing tamarisk tree, a tree which envelops the coffin. Eventually the tree is cut down and used as a pillar in the palace in Byblos.

Isis, Osiris' wife and sister, searched far and wide for Her husband, and did eventually find Herself in Byblos. The story is quite long and complicated, but in the end She convinced the King to give Her the pillar, and when she returned to Egypt, She hid Osiris in a swampy area of the Nile delta, and bade Her sister, Nephthys, to watch over Him while She went in search of healing herbs. But Seth heard that Osiris was back, and so after interrogating His sister-wife, Nephthys, He found Osiris, cut His body into pieces, and threw them into the Nile.

Isis was horrified at what transpired in Her absence, but She immediately set to work on finding the many pieces of Her husband with the help of Her sister, Nephthys. They managed to find every piece of His body except His phallus, which had been eaten by an oxyrhyncus fish, a fish that was thus forbidden to eat.

With the pieces of Osiris reassembled, and the healing powers of Isis in full power, Osiris was brought back to life, but incomplete. Isis assumed the form of a kite, and from above drew out the seed of Osiris, impregnating Herself with Their child: Horus the Younger. But Osiris, still incomplete, could not properly rule over the land of the living any longer.

This is why He is the ruler of the dead––He was once the king of the living, was killed, and was resurrected, and this is what every ancient Egyptian expected and hoped would happen to them: that they would die and be resurrected. In tombs and mortuary temples you will always see Pharaohs associating themselves with Osiris.

But this long myth I have just told you is not the only version of the story, and in my opinion, it is definitely the longest version of the story. Back in the Old Kingdom and Middle Kingdom there were several different versions; for example, Set's motive is different, ranging from revenge for Osiris kicking him, to revenge for Nephthys (Seth's sister-wife) sleeping with Osiris (which eventually births Anubis). Some texts claim that Seth took on the form of a wild animal, such as a crocodile or a hippopotamus, and killed Osiris that way. In others, Osiris is drowned. In some, the steps surrounding the coffin are skipped, and Osiris is simply cut up, and His pieces scattered around Egypt; a version which explains the many cult centers of Osiris claiming to be a place where Osiris is buried. Osiris' resurrection is also often helped along by other Gods such as Thoth (God of wisdom) and Anubis (God of embalming). In some versions, Set is killed for His actions. In most He is simply defeated and driven from the land, as chaos is necessary for balance and harmony, and thus cannot be killed. And the story that I have told is from the Late Period, recorded by Plutarch, and does not really go along with many Egyptian accounts, which often find Osiris' penis intact.

So that is the Osiris myth with all of its' intricacies and changing rhythms over the course of 4,000 years of Egyptian history. It embodies a huge amount of cultural practices and religious ideas within ancient Egypt, including the idea of truth, harmony, and justice, as well as resurrection, the afterlife, healing, and the workings of the cosmos. I've decided to leave out the later parts involving Osiris' son, Horus, and His fight with Set, for now because this does not directly involve Osiris, and that is our topic for this post.

Tradition, History, and Culture

Worship of Osiris dates back to the Old Kingdom, but the idea of Osiris is likely older than this. Before Osiris was actually Khentiamenti, an agricultural God centered in Abydos, a city which would later become the cult center of Osiris. Khentiamenti means 'Foremost of the Westerners', a title for the ruler of the dead, as the dead resided in the west, where the sun set each day. But Osiris Himself is not found mentioned in any texts or carvings until the 5th Dynasty, where He is depicted as a man wearing a divine wig. Later on He would take on the form we know Him best in––wrapped in a white mummy shroud, wearing an atef crown with ostrich plumes on the sides.

The mummy shroud He is depicted in forever associates Him with death and with the essential story behind Him, which is why I found it so important to start off with the Osiris Myth. This myth is also why He consumed and took the place of Khentiamenti; the name Khentiamenti, Foremost of the Westerners, instead became a title for Osiris as the King of the blessed dead. Another common epithet/name of Osiris is Wennefer (Omnophris), meaning 'The Beautiful One', 'The Beneficent One', and more archaically, 'One Whose Body Did Not Decay'. Among these names He was also called 'The Lord of Love', 'The King of Living', and 'The Eternal Lord'. From the Early Dynastic Period up until the end of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, when Rome conquered Egypt, Osiris was one of the most highly worshipped and revered Gods of Egypt.

Osiris was associated with the Nile river, with its' renewal and life-giving abilities, as one of Osiris' domains and powers was fertility, as well as rebirth. Another of His duties, evidence of which originates in the New Kingdom, was to act as judge of the dead; being King, He sat on the tribunal with the 42 Judges in the famous Weighing of the Heart ceremony. In this ceremony, which took place in the afterlife, the deceased would have to stand before the court and place their soul up for judgement. If it weighed lighter than the feather of Ma'at, representing all justice, truth, and harmony, then the heart acted well in life and would be allowed eternal happiness in the Field of Reeds. If not, the heart, and thus the person, would be consumed by Ammit and committed to nothingness. So Osiris would sit in on this tribunal and judge who entered His kingdom, as it was His domain. In this role, and in His role as King of the Living, as well, He was the embodiment of harmony, law, and justice.

"Most of his appeal was based on his embodiment of the cosmic harmony. The rising Nile was his insignia, and the moon’s constant state of renewal symbolized his bestowal of eternal happiness in the lands beyond the grave. In this capacity he also became the model of human endeavors and virtues..." (The Complete Gods And Goddesses Of Ancient Egypt, p.307)

As I mentioned earlier, Abydos became His cult center, as it was the cult center of the God who came before Him, whose traits He subsumed. It became a very popular burial site, as legends would say that Abydos was where Osiris was truly buried, and the people wanted to be buried as close as possible to Osiris. At one point they believed an ancient tomb there––which was actually the tomb of an Early Dynastic King––to be the tomb of Osiris, which they much revered, and left so many offerings in clay pots that Arabs would later call the site 'Umm el Qa'ab'; Mother of Pots. But this was not the only burial site of Osiris; since many variations of the myth include Set chopping up and dismembering Osiris into many parts, ranging from 14 to 42 different parts. These parts were scattered across Egypt, so many cities and nomes could claim that they had a part of Osiris buried in their domain. For example, far in the south, the island of Bigah claimed to be the burial site of Osiris' left leg, and thus the source for the yearly Nile inundation.

Going back to the Osiris Myth, after Osiris died and became the ruler of the dead, His son took His place as King of the Living: the falcon God, Horus (Heru the Younger). After the brief bout of chaos brought about under Set's rule, Horus took over (after much deliberation from the Gods) and order was restored. Because of this story, Pharaohs would not only associate themselves with Osiris in death, but with Horus in life. Each Pharaoh, as they came to the throne, would become the living embodiment of Horus on earth, the son of Osiris. In this way, Isis was also the mother of every Pharaoh, and their protector. And, to added extent, each Pharaoh would have a personal name, and then a Horus name granted to them when they ascended to the throne.

"It is for this reason that Osiris is so often depicted as a mummified pharaoh; because pharaohs were mummified to resemble Osiris. The image of the great mummified god preceeded the practice of preparing the royal body to look like Osiris... The king's appearance as modeled after Osiris' extended throughout his reign; the famous flail and shepherd's staff, synonymous with Egyptian pharaohs, were first Osiris' symbols as the flail represented the fertility of his land while the crook symbolized the authority of his rule." (Osiris, World History Encyclopedia, Joshua J. Mark)

Osiris can also be represented by a number of physical symbols, such as the crook and flail that He carries in almost all representations of His earthly form. The crook, which is the striped hook He carries, represents power/authority, and is a symbol of the Pharaoh. The flail, which is the instrument in His other hand, represents the fertility of the Nile, and as an extension, the fertility of Osiris Himself. But the crook and flail, though both seen typically as symbols of Pharaonic power, are actually the tools of a shepherd. There is reasonable evidence, thusly, to suggest that the physical origins of the idea of Osiris may not be that of a great King, but of a ruler of a shepherd tribe in the Nile Delta, whose rule was so beneficent that it led to him being worshipped as a God. For Egyptologists, this theory comes from His association with Andjety, a predynastic God-King worshipped in the Delta who also bore the crook and flail as His symbols. This, however, has not and likely cannot be fully proven. But the postulation is still interesting nonetheless!

Osiris' ba soul had its' own culture of worship, a practice of soul-worship that is prevalent in the cults of several other Gods, such as Hathor (HwtHer). In this form, Osiris was known as Banebdjedet, meaning 'The Ba of the Lord of the Djed,' which in English terms means 'The Soul of the Lord of the Pillar of Continuity', as ba means soul, and djed is the symbol for a pillar, which represented the backbone of Osiris. Interestingly, the name Banebdjedet is feminine, as the letter t denotes a feminine word or name in ancient Egyptian; although there are also variations on this name that exclude the t in favour of the alternative, Banebdjed. Banebdjedet, Osiris' ba soul, was worshipped mainly in Mendes, a city in Lower Egypt, in the Delta.

This leads to an interesting point concerning the androgyny of Osiris, a subject I found while researching for this post. Osiris' fertility comes from His castration and then being healed by the mother Goddess, Isis. Not only that, but both men and women identified themselves with Osiris in death. Then the name for His ba personified as another God is feminine, although representations of Banebdjedet are overwhelmingly male. Before anyone attacks me, I am not claiming that Osiris is a genderless God or King––just that He has some traits of androgyny, which I find interesting and love to study in ancient cultures, and I thought it would be good to mention for anyone else similarly interested.

Worship, Festivals, and Cult Activities

When it comes to the practices surrounding Osiris' cult, we actually know a good deal of information regarding the activities of worshippers and priests. Osiris' cult and worship was so widespread and lasted long enough that it could be recorded by the earliest Greek historians, and remained carved in temple walls for thousands of years. Among the most well-known cultic tradition is the Osiris Bed.

The Osiris Bed is rather well documented, as it was an object placed in tombs. It was not a bed for the deceased to lie in, but instead a box made of wood or clay, moulded into the shape of Osiris, in which the fertile Nile soil was placed and seeds were planted. These boxes were then wrapped in white mummy linens, and the seeds sprouted through, representing the resurrection and fertility of Osiris, and the crops that grew each year in cycles. One of the most famous of these beds was found in King Djer's tomb, a King from the Early Dynastic Period; the 2nd King ever of the unified Egypt. Coincidentally (or, perhaps, not so coincidentally) King Djer's tomb was the tomb which pilgrims believed to be Osiris' burial site.

While the Osiris Bed is far from the only practice and tradition of the Osiris cult, it does show the rich cultural practices and symbolism present in His worship. Let's look at some other examples of the practices of Osiris' cult.

Similar to the Osiris bed were Osiris gardens, which were essentially the same concept; fertile soil was planted inside a vessel shaped into the form of Osiris, and seeds were settled within to grow. These beds were tended to during festivals instead of being buried in a tomb.

There were a great many festivals, and each of them quite popular according to their time period, dedicated to the story and symbolism of Osiris. Some festivals started with recounting the mournings of Isis and Nephthys, Osiris' sister-wife and sister, in the form of a drama acted out in a call-and-response format. Another drama acted out for the glory of Osiris was more in the form of an actual fight that anyone could participate in; it was modelled after The Contendings of Horus and Set, which I briefly mentioned as a long and drawn-out argument between Horus and Set over who deserved Osiris' vacant throne after He had died. On this occasion, people would battle out and reenact the events of the story until the side of Horus finally won and victory was achieved. Afterwards, the celebrations commenced in honoring the restoration of order, and the gold-encased shAwyt-nTr (the Holy Statue) of Osiris would be taken out and lavished with offerings. Osiris, in the form of this statue, would be paraded throughout the city of Abydos before being placed in a shrine outside, where He could participate fully in the festivities, and be admired by the commoners who would usually never behold the face of Osiris. This emergence of Osiris from the dark temple's inner sanctuary to the light of the city resembled and represented His resurrection from death into life again. Although this particular festival was celebrated mainly in Osiris cult center of Abydos, it was also celebrated in other cities such as Bubastis in the Delta, Busiris, Memphis, and Thebes, in Upper Egypt.

The Mysteries of Osiris was a series of plays performed annually, and in dramatic, passionate form. It was one of the most popular observances of worshippers, and it told the story that I first told to you––of Osiris' life, His death at the hands of His brother, His resurrection at the hands of His sister-wife, and His ascension into the role we now know Him for. The roles in this reenactments were often taken up by high-ranking officials, and afterwards, the Contendings of Horus and Set would take place, which I just mentioned. These plays would take place over several days.

One festival was called The Fall of the Nile. During this time, the waters of the Nile would recede, and the worshippers of Osiris would go into mourning. One of Osiris' representation on earth was the Nile, and the Nile represented His fertility and life.

Another festival was celebrated on the 19th day of Pakhons, one of the months in the Egyptian calendar, which is roughly equivalent to May in our Gregorian calendar. On this day, the followers of Osiris would go to the river with shrines containing vessels of gold and metal, and would pour water into the Nile, exclaiming, "Osiris is found!" Mud and spices were mixed and moulded into the shape of Osiris, as well, to celebrate His return. Another festival similar to this one was called The Night of the Tear, and took place during modern-day June.

The last festival pertaining to Osiris that I will mention is the Djed pillar festival, held in modern-day January. The Pharaonic court and family would participate, raising djed pillars to welcome Osiris and the harvests that coincided with His return.

One last and interesting tradition that may seem familiar to Christians, at least in a small way, was the baking of bread in the shape of Osiris; bread as the flesh of the God, a sort of predecessor of communion wafers. But in reality the traditions of the Osiris cakes are completely different, and there were several different ways of going about it, depending on which nome you were from. In Dendera, wheat-paste models were made in the shape of each of the 16 dismembered parts of Osirs, and each model was sent out to the town where each respective part of Osiris was found by Isis. In Mendes, figures of Osiris were made of wheat and paste. On the day of the murder, they were placed in a trough, followed by water being added each day for several days. Afterwards, this mixture was kneaded into a dough, put into a mold of Osiris, and buried on the temple grounds.

Conclusion

This has been a somewhat brief glimpse into the cult, history, and traditions surrounding the Great God, The Beautiful Lord Osiris. If I can clarify anything please let me know and I will do my best!

[renegade-hierophant]

Sphinx of Pharaoh Amenemhat III (Imn-m-ḥꜣt, “Amun is in the front,” 12th dynasty, ruled 1829-1799 BCE), who would become divinized and worshipped in the Fayyum lake region of Egypt well into the Greco-Roman period and known in Greek as Poimandres (Ποιμάνδρης), from Egyptian pr-ꜥꜣ (ni)-mꜣꜥt-rꜥ, “Pharaoh of the Ma’at of Ra,” which was his ruling throne name.

In the Fayyum there are statues of him standing together with the god Thoth (Greek Hermes) next to a larger statue of Sobek (Suchos), the primordial deity.