Famous Egyptian Myths
"The kingdom of heaven is within you and whoever shall know himself will find it"
-ancient Egyptian proverb
3 major Egyptian myths
THE STORY OF ISIS & OSIRIS (THE RISE OF HORUS)
summary: The story of Isis and Osiris is about Osiris was an earthly ruler, who was popular with his subjects. His brother, Set, was jealous of this popularity and plotted against Osiris. Set or Seth is an evil ruler who envies Osiris and hates Isis, who is Osiris's wife.
The more the people loved and praised Osiris, the more Seth hated him; and the more good he did and the happier mankind became, the stronger grew Seth's desire to kill his brother and rule in his place. Isis, however, was so full of wisdom and so watchful she knew of Set's jealously. Isis made sure that Seth made no attempt to seize the throne while she was watching over the land of Egypt.
Set's plans to be rid of his brother started when he secretly obtained his brothers measurements and had a magnificent casket made to fit only to Osiris.
Set then organised a large feast to which Osiris and a number of others were invited. At the height of the festivities Set produced the casket and announced that it would be given to whoever it fitted. All the guests tried the casket for size, but none fitted until finally Osiris stepped into the casket.
Set immediately slammed the lid closed and sealed the casket shut with. The sealed coffin was then thrown into the Nile. Isis devastated search for the casket throughout Egypt. eventually she found it and returned it to Egypt for proper burial, if he was properly buried Osiris could go the after world. For safe keeping she concealed it in the marshes beside the Nile.
Unfortunately for Isis Set found the casket while out hunting and was so enraged he chopped the body of Osiris into pieces, and scattered the parts throughout the land of Egypt.
Poor Isis had to then set out again looking for the parts that were lost. Eventually she found all the parts except one and reassembled Osiris and wrapped him in bandages she performed the funerary rites, and at last Osiris was able to complete his journey and join Ra in the underworld.
As Horus grew up in hiding with Isis, Set controlled the deserts. But Horus was guided by the spirits of Ra and Osiris, and soon was powerful enough to challenge Set. Set was a master of disguises, and as the armies of Horus and Set met, Set transformed into a giant hippopotamus in order to crush Horus' armies. But with a mighty throw of his harpoon, Horus pierced the head of the hippopotamus and slew the evil Set. And Horus became the next pharaoh of Egypt.
When Horus in turn passed into the underworld, he waged an unending battle with Set. When the battle is won, Osiris will return to the land of the living to claim his throne.
THE ARTFUL THIEF
Before the Great Pyramids were built, there lived a great pharaoh with untold riches. He desired to protect his wealth so much that he ordered a stone vault to be built.
One of the builders wanted the treasure for himself, and while building the vault, he arranged for a stone slab to be movable from the outside, allowing access into the vault. However, his plans were in vain because he fell ill. On the brighter side before he died, he told his two sons about the slab and how to enter the vault.
The brother succeeded into entering the vault and stealing treasure. The Pharaoh began to notice that his treasure was being taken little by little. This puzzled him, the vault was guarded night and day, wanting to find the tricky thieves he set up a trap.
The trap worked, one unfortunate brother was caught, knowing he would be executed he had his brother ,who had not been caught, cut off his head. The Pharaoh found the headless body but not the identity of the thief. He hung the body in the middle of town, hoping that the other thief would come to grieve, and reveal himself.
However, the surviving brother was smart. He pretended to be a wine merchant, and he managed to get the guards drunk. He then succeeded in removing his brother's body. The pharaoh was impressed with the ingenuity of the thief in stealing the treasure and rescuing his brother's body. He sent out a pardon for the thief, and asked him to appear before the pharaoh. The thief did so, and impressed the pharaoh so much that he was given the pharaoh's daughter to be his wife.
THE GIRL WITH ROSE RED SLIPPERS
This myth is perhaps the oldest account of the Cinderella story. It begins with a wealthy merchant ,Charaxos, who was living out his old days in Naucratis. One day while in the market place he saw a crowd, curious he went to see what all the commotion was about. his breath was caught when he laid his eyes on a beautiful Greek girl. she was being sold and the merchant wanted her. Being as wealthy as he was this was easy. After buying her he listened to her tale of being taken away from pirates at a young age and sold to a rich man as a slave. It was on that island that she met Aesop, a little ugly man that was kind to her and told her stories.
The man was so enchanted and in love with the girl that he used his wealth to buy her a home and all the jewels and clothes she desired. she was then treated like his very own daughter who was a princess that was sent to him by the gods. one day a eagle picked up one of her most expensive slippers and soared away, she began to cry at having lost one of Charaxos's gift. little did she know the eagle dropped the slipper on the very lap of Pharaoh Amasis sat in the great courtyard doing justice to his people and hearing any complaints that they wished to bring.
Examining the delicate rose red slipper he decided that the owner must be the most loveliest in the world and that he must find her and put her in his royal palace of women.
the Pharaoh sent out his men to find her. the men were led to Charaxos, Rhodopis was so surprised to see the slipper and showed the counterpart slipper. she was then taken to the Pharaoh was was also enchanted by her beauty that he made her his wife. from there on she lived a life of luxury and happiness until the day she died.
summary: The story of Isis and Osiris is about Osiris was an earthly ruler, who was popular with his subjects. His brother, Set, was jealous of this popularity and plotted against Osiris. Set or Seth is an evil ruler who envies Osiris and hates Isis, who is Osiris's wife.
The more the people loved and praised Osiris, the more Seth hated him; and the more good he did and the happier mankind became, the stronger grew Seth's desire to kill his brother and rule in his place. Isis, however, was so full of wisdom and so watchful she knew of Set's jealously. Isis made sure that Seth made no attempt to seize the throne while she was watching over the land of Egypt.
Set's plans to be rid of his brother started when he secretly obtained his brothers measurements and had a magnificent casket made to fit only to Osiris.
Set then organised a large feast to which Osiris and a number of others were invited. At the height of the festivities Set produced the casket and announced that it would be given to whoever it fitted. All the guests tried the casket for size, but none fitted until finally Osiris stepped into the casket.
Set immediately slammed the lid closed and sealed the casket shut with. The sealed coffin was then thrown into the Nile. Isis devastated search for the casket throughout Egypt. eventually she found it and returned it to Egypt for proper burial, if he was properly buried Osiris could go the after world. For safe keeping she concealed it in the marshes beside the Nile.
Unfortunately for Isis Set found the casket while out hunting and was so enraged he chopped the body of Osiris into pieces, and scattered the parts throughout the land of Egypt.
Poor Isis had to then set out again looking for the parts that were lost. Eventually she found all the parts except one and reassembled Osiris and wrapped him in bandages she performed the funerary rites, and at last Osiris was able to complete his journey and join Ra in the underworld.
As Horus grew up in hiding with Isis, Set controlled the deserts. But Horus was guided by the spirits of Ra and Osiris, and soon was powerful enough to challenge Set. Set was a master of disguises, and as the armies of Horus and Set met, Set transformed into a giant hippopotamus in order to crush Horus' armies. But with a mighty throw of his harpoon, Horus pierced the head of the hippopotamus and slew the evil Set. And Horus became the next pharaoh of Egypt.
When Horus in turn passed into the underworld, he waged an unending battle with Set. When the battle is won, Osiris will return to the land of the living to claim his throne.
THE ARTFUL THIEF
Before the Great Pyramids were built, there lived a great pharaoh with untold riches. He desired to protect his wealth so much that he ordered a stone vault to be built.
One of the builders wanted the treasure for himself, and while building the vault, he arranged for a stone slab to be movable from the outside, allowing access into the vault. However, his plans were in vain because he fell ill. On the brighter side before he died, he told his two sons about the slab and how to enter the vault.
The brother succeeded into entering the vault and stealing treasure. The Pharaoh began to notice that his treasure was being taken little by little. This puzzled him, the vault was guarded night and day, wanting to find the tricky thieves he set up a trap.
The trap worked, one unfortunate brother was caught, knowing he would be executed he had his brother ,who had not been caught, cut off his head. The Pharaoh found the headless body but not the identity of the thief. He hung the body in the middle of town, hoping that the other thief would come to grieve, and reveal himself.
However, the surviving brother was smart. He pretended to be a wine merchant, and he managed to get the guards drunk. He then succeeded in removing his brother's body. The pharaoh was impressed with the ingenuity of the thief in stealing the treasure and rescuing his brother's body. He sent out a pardon for the thief, and asked him to appear before the pharaoh. The thief did so, and impressed the pharaoh so much that he was given the pharaoh's daughter to be his wife.
THE GIRL WITH ROSE RED SLIPPERS
This myth is perhaps the oldest account of the Cinderella story. It begins with a wealthy merchant ,Charaxos, who was living out his old days in Naucratis. One day while in the market place he saw a crowd, curious he went to see what all the commotion was about. his breath was caught when he laid his eyes on a beautiful Greek girl. she was being sold and the merchant wanted her. Being as wealthy as he was this was easy. After buying her he listened to her tale of being taken away from pirates at a young age and sold to a rich man as a slave. It was on that island that she met Aesop, a little ugly man that was kind to her and told her stories.
The man was so enchanted and in love with the girl that he used his wealth to buy her a home and all the jewels and clothes she desired. she was then treated like his very own daughter who was a princess that was sent to him by the gods. one day a eagle picked up one of her most expensive slippers and soared away, she began to cry at having lost one of Charaxos's gift. little did she know the eagle dropped the slipper on the very lap of Pharaoh Amasis sat in the great courtyard doing justice to his people and hearing any complaints that they wished to bring.
Examining the delicate rose red slipper he decided that the owner must be the most loveliest in the world and that he must find her and put her in his royal palace of women.
the Pharaoh sent out his men to find her. the men were led to Charaxos, Rhodopis was so surprised to see the slipper and showed the counterpart slipper. she was then taken to the Pharaoh was was also enchanted by her beauty that he made her his wife. from there on she lived a life of luxury and happiness until the day she died.