Before understanding their mythology, it is important to recognize how the geography surrounding Egypt influenced their perception. Flowing upward rather than down, the great 4,000 mile long Nile River ran through the middle of Egypt predictably flooding the landscape at certain times each year. Early Egyptian civilization was divided into nomes with each having their own supreme gods and creation mythology with none being more superior than another. This balanced, stable relationship shared between people and land impacted their collective mindset and is reflected in the equal importance given to both men and women in the Egyptian pantheon.
Egyptian cosmology tells of a dark, watery chaotic abyss, Nun, (the Nile) from which sprang a creative, primeval mound. The Egyptian pantheon, the Ogdoad, were born from the sweat of the Creator and consisted of four pairs of gods and goddesses who represented the primeval waters, boundless infinity, darkness, and the invisible forces. These initial deities were responsible for the creation of the cosmic egg from which sprang the supreme Egyptian creator god, Atum-Ra. Atum-Ra became the personification of the sun and its nightly defeat of chaos (Apep) in order to resurrect life and bring forth a new day. Atum-Ra ejaculated into his own mouth and brought order out of chaos by giving birth to the air (Shu) and moisture (Tefenet) who became the parents of the earth (Geb) and the sky (Nut). Geb and Nut were said to have fallen in love and embraced so closely that life between them could not exist. Their father, Shu, had to step in and distance the couple so that there would be room for other life. Geb and Nut's sacrifice enabled Nut to give birth to the Egyptian gods of which Westerners are most familiar: Isis, Osiris, Seth, and Nephthys.
Atum-Ra is more than just the creator god, he is also a father, like Shu, in every sense. One Egyptian myth describes how his children, Shu and Tefenet, got lost in Nun, the infinite abyss, and how he sends his magic eye to find them. When he finally does reunite with his children, the tears of joy he weeps become the first human beings. This myth, like that of Geb and Nut, demonstrates the Egyptian understanding that through sacrifice comes tremendous gain. Furthermore, it speaks of the Egyptian understanding that like the earth itself, human beings are mainly composed of salt-water. Even more interesting is that Ra's magic eye when removed from his being takes the form of the goddess Hathor and again, one sees the importance Egyptians placed on the integral, equal relationship between men and women.
Although ancient Egyptians saw the earth as a male figure, the role of women was equal in their mythology. It is as if they understood that women can as easily give life as they can take it away; therefore, they are not the weaker sex but instead possibly the strongest. Hathor herself was symbolized as a cow, the ultimate nurturer of humanity, who was a loving, kind, teacher and cared for the earth's children. However, she could also be extremely dangerous and destructive with a wrath that was almost unstoppable. For example, Ra decided that he needed to punish humans because he was tired of their ingratitude and ignorance. He called upon Hathor, his magic eye, who transformed herself into the lioness, Sekhmet, and came to earth to demand blood from every human. Once she began, the goddess became obsessive in her fury and Ra realized he had underestimated Hathor's rage and that she had to be stopped. He called upon the high priest of Heliopolis to make 7,000 jars of dyed-red beer and poured them upon the earth. Sekhmet drank the beer with the same passion of blood, then passed out cold. While sleeping, she transformed back into the beautiful, gentle Hathor and humanity was saved. However, she left plague and death in her wake as a result of not recognizing her shadowside and humankind began to understand that the ultimate power of the gods should not be taken lightly.
Perhaps the most familiar female deity in Egyptian mythology is Isis, the mourning goddess. However, like all of Egyptian mythology, one must first look at her in relation to her male counterpart, Osiris. Osiris was born the twin of Seth, who symbolized the evil, dark side of man while Osiris was the good and just. The two of them were constantly at odds because of Seth's jealously and desire to reign supreme. Inevitably, Seth succeeded in killing Osiris and their are several mythic versions of this slaying depending upon the nome involved. It is after Osiris' death that Isis takes on her role as supreme goddess as her efforts result in his ultimate resurrection. One myth tells of how all were at a party when Seth tricked Osiris with his own vanity into a coffin that he sent down the Nile. Isis was devastated at the loss of her love and wandered the earth wailing and moaning dressed as a beggar trying to find him. Tired and forlorn, she comes to a home where she is welcomed by a kind family. Here, she hires herself out as a maid servant and in return for their hospitality dips the family's child in the fire of immortality. One day, the parents walk in on this exercise completely horrified and scare Isis who drops the baby and leaves all but his heel protected. She explains herself to the couple who proceed to tell her of the tree where Osiris' coffin is located. She takes Osiris and makes love to his corpse thereby resurrecting him through their son, Horus.
Seth discovers Isis' actions, finds Osiris and cuts him up into fourteen pieces and spreads them upon the earth. Again, Isis wanders the earth to find Osiris' body parts and discovers all but his penis which was eaten by a fish. Without a phallus, Osiris can no longer be the ruler on earth and is sent to the underworld where he becomes the judge of immortality. Meanwhile, Seth takes Osiris' throne that rightly belongs to Horus and Isis goes to Ra to get permission to dethrone him. Ra explains that this situation must be resolved without her intervention but Isis finds this disagreeable. She disguises herself as a beautiful woman and goes to Seth upset about cattle she says were robbed from her. Seth explains how unfair this was and Isis reveals herself to demonstrate the ultimate injustice in his taking Horus' throne. Isis becomes afraid that Horus will loose to Seth so she harpoons him; however, she feels sorry for what she's done and saves his life. Horus is furious at his mother's intervention so he beheads her infuriating Ra who cuts out Horus' eyes but eventually restores him to power.
Read at face value these myths leave one reeling in the chaotic, unbelievable actions of the gods but when analyzed on a deeper level one discovers fascinating truths about the psyche of humanity. Osiris can be seen as the king symbolically killed in order for a new ruler to be born, a mythic cycle common among agricultural societies as an explanation for the alternating harvest and seasons. Because women primarily do the harvesting, Isis can be seen as both castrator and life bringer. Osiris' castration represents the concept of an ithypallic god whose sperm relates to the life giving waters and whose alternatingly erect penis demonstrates that death is only a transitionary state. Furthermore, the relationship between Osiris and Seth can be seen as a statement regarding the cosmic duality of good versus evil and/or order versus chaos in the fact that both must be present and are complementary.
The Isis and Osiris myth speaks volumes about Egyptian understanding of women. Isis' passions and sacrifices for both her son and husband are tremendous as are all womens'. This mythology demonstrates the murderous results of a mother's need to protect her children as when Isis harpoons Seth. However, when Isis tricks Seth with the robbed cattle and ultimately restores his life, one sees that women are the divine forgivers who can teach lessons and enact revenge without death. Isis seems to intimately know both her light and shadow sides because she recognizes her anger and controls it rather than letting it run loose as Sekhmet does.
Another example of Isis' understanding lies in the myth she shares with Selquet, the Scorpion Goddess. Here magic, love, and understanding combine to spin a moralistic, mythic tale. In this myth, Isis flees a workshop where Seth has her imprisoned to weave Osiris' shroud. Isis is going to see Horus and she is accompanied by the scorpion goddess whom she has asked to be discreet. As she enters a village, a rich woman closes the door upon sight of the entourage while a poor fisherman's wife welcomes her. The scorpion goddess takes offense at Isis' treatment by the uppity woman and sneaks into her house and stings her son causing the house to catch fire. Isis takes pity on the family and summons a rainstorm to put out the fire, then magically cures the child's wound because for her, he represents Horus. As a result of Isis' kindness, the rich woman gives her material possessions to the poor family and is taught about hospitality and generosity. On one hand, this myth symbolizes that generosity has its own reward but on the other it demonstrates how Selquet, the goddess of childbirth and protector of mummified dead, does not recognize the power of her shadow side. Again, it takes the balanced Isis to bring order to a chaotic situation because she possesses the magically powerful knowledge of the inner-self.
Egyptian mythology contains a wealth of knowledge about the human psyche that may only be rivaled by the Greeks. It seems they had an intimate understanding of both men and women but particularly of the female light and shadow sides. Isis, Hathor, and Selqet all possess incredible powers; however, it is Isis who reigns supreme because she can recognize and thereby control her own inner chaos. Although she faces the ultimate sacrifice when losing her husband, she uses this loss to bring new life into the world through her son. Even though this did not historically occur, one can benefit from understanding that through Isis' pain she gained a new lease on life and therefore psychologically advanced. So it is true for all of us who can admit our mistakes, recognize our weaknesses, and appreciate life for living's sake. Again, mythology acts to teach humankind about the cyclical pattern of resurrection both inside and outside the self.
© Copyright Paula Vaughan
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