Isis

Isis is a name that comes from Egyptian mythology. Isis is actually the Greek translation of the Egyptian “ȝs.t” which most etymologists believe to mean “(she who inhabits) the throne”. As the goddess of the life, rebirth, nature and magic among ancient Egyptians, Isis was commonly depicted wearing a headdress in the shape of a throne (hence her name). She was worshipped as the model wife and mother and she knew no class boundaries among her human subjects; she was revered by all levels of ancient Egyptian society including slaves and rulers, poor people and aristocratic, artisans, merchants and the wealthy. Isis protected the dead and she watched over children. But it was Pharaoh who felt most akin to Isis, often depicted as her child who sat on the throne she provided. The whole of Egypt idealized Isis so it’s no surprise her mythological legend was embraced across the Mediterranean Sea by Greco-Roman cultures. In her most popular legend, Isis was borne from the union of the Earth god and Sky goddess. She became the sister-wife of Osiris, god of the Afterlife and the two had a son name Horus, god of war. Osiris was murdered by his jealous brother Set (god of darkness); Isis was so grief-stricken by the loss of her husband that her tears caused the Nile River to flood. According to the myth, Isis (using her magic) picked up the pieces of her husband’s dead body parts strewn across Egypt so she could reassemble, restore and embalm his body for a proper burial. This myth provided the explanation for ancient people of the Mediterranean as to why the Nile River flooded every year, so it was important for them to ritualize the death and rebirth in homage to their goddess.