Cult of Isis
The Cult of Isis was a significant religious movement centered around the ancient Egyptian goddess Isis, who represented motherhood, healing, and magic. Known as the daughter of Geb (Earth) and Nut (Sky), as well as the wife and sister of Osiris, Isis played a vital role in Egyptian mythology, particularly in narratives surrounding life, death, and the afterlife. Her most celebrated myth involves mourning for Osiris after his murder by their brother Seth and her efforts to resurrect him, which established her as a powerful protector and healer.
As the Ptolemaic period progressed, the worship of Isis expanded beyond Egypt, reaching Greece, the Aegean islands, and parts of Asia Minor, eventually becoming prominent in the Roman Empire. Despite facing repression, her cult attracted followers from diverse social backgrounds, offering rites and ceremonies that fostered a sense of community among believers. Temples dedicated to Isis, particularly the significant one on the island of Philae, served as centers for her worship and the recording of her miraculous deeds.
Isis was unique in that she promised eternal life and held dominion over fate, leading many to revere her as the sole deity in their spiritual lives. Although the rise of Christianity led to the decline of pagan practices, the Cult of Isis endured longer than most, with its last temple remaining operational until 551 CE. The imagery and concepts associated with Isis have also been linked to later Christian figures, such as the Virgin Mary, reflecting her enduring influence on religious thought and iconography.
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Subject Terms
Cult of Isis
Related civilizations: Pharaonic Egypt, Hellenistic Greece, Imperial Rome.
Date: c. 2400 b.c.e.-551 c.e.
Locale: Egypt
Cult of Isis
Isis (I-sihs) was among the most important deities of ancient Egypt. Her name derived from aset or eset, meaning “throne.” She was the daughter of Geb and Nut (Earth and Sky), the wife and sister of Osiris, and the mother of Horus.
Isis was described in the Pyramid Texts (c. 2350-2100 b.c.e.; English translation, 1924) as the principal mourner for her husband, Osiris, who had been murdered by their brother Seth. Later narratives, many preserved by Plutarch, described how Isis reunited Osiris’s dismembered body and revived him so he could take his place as ruler of the underworld. Isis protected her infant son Horus until the boy was old enough to avenge his father’s death and ascend the celestial throne of Egypt.
Isis developed a great following. She was associated with other deities, but her powers were believed to transcend them. She was the exemplary wife and mother, the healer, the bestower of fertility and prosperity, the patroness of the dead, and the great magician. Even the flooding of the Nile was attributed to her. By the Ptolemaic period (beginning 305 b.c.e.), Isis was foremost among Egyptian goddesses. Her cult spread to Greece, the Aegean islands, and coastal cites in Asia Minor. After the Roman conquest of Egypt (30 b.c.e.), the cult of Isis was transported throughout the Roman world. Followers came from all social levels despite periodic attempts at repression.
Although little is known of the mysteries of initiation and specific rites, there were priests, regular observances, and ceremonies. Aretalogies (reports of Isis’s miracles) were recorded in her many temples. The most important of these was on the island of Philae in Upper Egypt. Isis was exalted in a world that honored many deities. She assumed many roles and appeared in many forms. She was called myrionymos, “the one with 10,000 names.” A Latin inscription described her as “the one who is all.” Unlike other gods, she promised eternal life and possessed power to control destiny. For many of her faithful, she was the only deity.
After Constantine the Great declared Christianity a state religion, other religions were soon prohibited. The cult of Isis was the last to survive. The Blemmyes of Nubia had a treaty with Rome guaranteeing them access to the temple of Isis at Philae. It was not until 551 c.e. that this site was closed by Justinian I. It was Egypt’s last functioning temple.
Although the temples were closed, the cult of Isis remained influential. The figure of Isis was identified with that of the Virgin Mary. Images of the Virgin and child can be compared with those of Isis and the infant Horus. It has been speculated that veneration of the Virgin Mary was a direct response to the cult of Isis.
Bibliography
Lesko, Barbara. The Goddesses of Egypt. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1999.
Takacs, Sarolta. Isis and Sarapis in the Roman World. New York: E. J. Brill, 1995.