The myth concerning Isis, Horus and Osiris was one of the most influential in the Ancient Egyptian world. It is said that Osiris’ brother Seth was jealous of his success as ruler of Egypt and so murdered him, tearing his body to pieces and then scattering them. In despair, Osiris’ wife and sister, Isis, collected the severed pieces and restored Osiris, allowing him to posthumously conceive a son, Horus, who once grown finally avenged his father by killing Seth. Isis and Horus are often shown in this nurturing pose, reflecting Isis’ restorative and healing properties. Depictions of deities in amulet form also had widespread popularity for many thousands of years in ancient Egypt, as it was a common way of invoking the assistance or protection of a particular god. The nature of this assistance can often be determined by the gods’ particular spheres of influence.
To discover more about amulets in the Ancient Egyptian world, please visit our relevant post: Amulets in Ancient Egypt.
