07 | Stela of Osiris, Isis and other gods

The gods of the afterlife were very important in ancient Egyptian religion and this fragmentary limestone monument or stela is decorated with some of the most significant gods of the underworld.

Framing the scene at the top is a winged disc that represents the sun god in the form of Horus, said to be ‘colourful of feathers’.

Look closely at the left half of the wings to see remnants of colours, leaving us to wonder how this stela once appeared in all its glory.

The wings stretch open over 9 figures.

Look at the seated figure - this figure is the god Osiris, the god of the dead, of the underworld, of rebirth and of fertility.

See his ‘mummiform’, or the way he is represented in a mummified body.

He holds a shepherd’s crook in one hand, symbolising his guidance of the Egyptians, and a flail or whip in the other, to represent his might.

On his head is a long crown with two ostrich feathers on each side, the ‘atef’-crown, with which he is often depicted.

The hieroglyphs to the right of his crown describe him as ‘foremost of the westerners’, the westerners being the dead who would gather in the realm of the setting sun.

See the hieroglyphs behind his throne?

These mention that ‘protection and life are behind’ this god.

Behind him are two figures in long dresses.

The larger of the two is Imentet, the goddess of the west who personifies the underworld over which Osiris ruled.

The second goddess is the ‘daughter of Re’.

With an ostrich feather on her head, it is none other than Maat, the goddess of order and truth, who works side-by-side with Osiris in judging the dead.

Directly in front of Osiris’s throne is a lotus flower from which appear four other bearded and mummiform figures.

These are the Four Sons of Horus, believed to offer protection to the internal organs of the deceased individual after mummification.

Standing in front of them are two goddesses.

They are each crowned with their names in hieroglyphs – the figure on the left is Nephthys – and next to her is Isis.

These goddesses of healing and magic join to protect the deceased.

Here, each goddess reaches her arm towards the Four Sons of Horus while holding the ankh, the symbol of life.

Nephthys and Isis are the sisters of Osiris, but Isis is also his wife.

Marrying family members was not practiced regularly by the ancient Egyptians, but only among the gods and, in some periods, the royal family, who were believed to be divine.

This way perhaps family ties were strengthened, power was consolidated, and universal balance was maintained.