Isis Deity Deep Dive
Known most notably as the “mother goddess”, Isis comes with many names, many stories, and many talents. Let’s get to know her!
Parents and Siblings
Geb and Nut
Osiris (brother)
Set (brother)
Nephthys (sister)
Horus the Elder (brother)
Lovers or Partners
Osiris is most commonly noted as her husband
Min
Serapis
Horus the Elder
Children
Horus (the younger)
Min
Four Sons of Horus
Bastet (sometimes)
Isis had many names (see image for her name in Hieroglyphs), often these doubled as titles that described her role.
The Divine One
The Queen of all Gods
Queen of Heaven
The Maker of Sunrise
Mother of God
Khut: giver of light at the beginning of a new year
Usert: goddess of the earth
Thenenet: goddess of the Tuat (the underworld)
Satis: the Nile flood’s power
Ankhet: providing fertility from the waters and embracer of the land
Kekhet: goddess of the fields and the cultivated areas
Renenet: goddess of the harvest
Tcheft: goddess of the food offered to the gods by humans
Ament: lady of the underworld who restored the bodies of the dead so they could live with Osiris in his kingdom.
Notes
Other names given to the goddess are Aset, Aust, Eenohebis, Eset, Esu, Hesat, Iahu, Unt, Urethekau, and Werethekau.
Her name has been debated to mean “throne” or “the seat”
There are no known references to Isis before the 5th Dynasty. Starting in obscurity, she became one of the most popular Kemetic deities, with a reach far beyond Egypt. This gave her many associations over time.
She is a psychopomp, leading the dead to the afterlife, which relates to her husband Osiris.
Often given the role or title of “mourner”, she was mentioned in the rites of the dead.
While being associated with death, she was also heavily associated with healing and magic, these two associations becoming more prominent as time went on and she gained popularity.
Isis is often conflated with fellow Kemetic goddess, Hathor, who she shares a likeness with in many ways and eventually usurped power as the most popular goddess in Egypt.
In one tale, it is said that Isis tricked Ra into revealing his true name to her, and as such gave her his magical abilities.
Seen as the ideal mother, the ideal wife, and all around ideal woman of the time, Isis gained popularity amongst high society and the common folk alike.
Her primary temples were in Behbeit el-Hagar and Philae, though she was often worshipped in many other temples, even in those not dedicated to her, but on a more minor level.
Due to her many associations, she also eventually came to be seen as the patron goddess of sea-farers.
Weaving, baking, and brewing beer are associated with her as well, as is the star Sirius and the kite falcon and the rearing cobra.
Festivals of Isis in Roman times were held on December 25, January 6, and March 5. Lychnapsia has also been suggested to be a festival dedicated to Isis.
Unlike many Kemetic deities, whose clergy were required to be of the same gender as the god, men and women both served in Isis’ temples.
In Greece her cult developed into a Mystery Religion and it held strong all throughout the Mediterranean until the 6th century CE.
Isis was said to conceal herself as an old or injured woman begging for alms.
Correspondences
Any traditional correspondence will be marked with a (T).
Rocks/Stone/Crystals
Bronze, red jasper (T), gold
Herbs/Plants
Acacia, persea, and date palm (sacred trees in Ancient Egypt), lotus, wheat
Cobra (T)
Scorpion (T)
Kite (or kestrel) (T)
Offerings
Beer (T)
Wine (T)
Honey (T)
Clean Water
Incense
Milk (T)
Perfume
Acts of Devotion
Practicing magic
Practicing medicine
Donating to charities involving healing or protecting those in need
Creating or reciting poems, hymns, songs, or prayers to Isis
References and Further Reading
Ancient Egypt Online - Isis
Britannica - Isis
The Complete Gods And Goddesses of Ancient Egypt by Umair Mirza
Wikipedia - Isis
World History Encyclopedia - Isis
Center for Hellenic Studies - Isis
Isiopolis (A votive work for Isis)
“I Am Isis”: The Role of Speech in the Cult of Isis by Martin Bommas