Egyptian Gods: Isis

Isis is one of the most important goddesses from Egyptian mythology. She is the mother goddess and is a symbol of fertility. She was mainly worshipped in the Nile Delta. 

Who was Isis? 

Isis was the mother goddess and was known for her fertility and magic. With her magic she was even able to manipulate the supreme god Ra. She also used her magic to impregnate herself. She was worshipped as the mistress of agriculture and as an important healer. Under the name of Isis, justice was established in Egypt. Isis was the daughter of Geb and Nut and the wife and sister of Osiris. They had another sister, Nephthys, and another brother, Seth.

What does Isis look like?

Isis is often shown with an ankh, which is the symbol of her fertility. She also often carries a sun disk with bullhorns and is sometimes shown with a sistrum.  This is an Egyptian musical instrument that consists of a U-shape made out of metal with several strings in between. There are small rings around the strings that make a sound when the instrument is shaken. The sistrum can be compared to a tambourine and can even be considered its precursor. To show that Isis was an important goddess, she was often portrayed with the image of a throne on her head. This represents the power of Isis. 

Hieroglyph

 Isis has her own hieroglyph in which the throne that she also wears on her head can be recognized. This symbol has been found a lot, mostly in Isis temples. 

Isis outside of Egypt

Isis was a very important goddess, not just in Egypt itself, but also abroad. She was very popular in Rome at the time of Ceasar and could be found all across the Roman Empire. A temple dedicated to Isis has been discovered in the city of Pompeii. This temple can still be visited today. A temple of Isis has also been found in London and in Ireland. 

Remains of the Egyptian goddess

Since Isis was so popular and was seen as an important goddess, it is no surprise that many things pertaining to Isis have been found. As mentioned before, many Isis temples have been found, along with countless statues of Isis. In the Egyptian museum in Cairo many statues of Isis can be admired. But it doesn't stop there: In the Louvre in Paris there is a statue of Isis and Horus together. And in the Museo Archaeologico Regionale in Palermo (On the Italian island of Sicily) an impressive statue of the Egyptian goddess can be found. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has several ancient images of Isis in its collection.  

Sources: www.todio.nl