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Osiris Role In Ancient Egyptian Religion

Decent Essays

Osiris was a god who originates from ancient Egypt. Osiris is most famous for being the patron deity of death, the afterlife, and resurrection, but this was not always the case. As stated in Isis' character summary, Osiris was formerly the patron of civilization and advancement preceding his untimely murder at the hands of Seth, his evil and dastardly brother. After Osiris' demise, the civilization god transformed into the god of death and the afterlife. Though Osiris' death did cause a shift in what he oversaw, his role as the god of the underworld played a major and influential part in the ancient Egyptian religion. His influence stretches from the time a person dies and is properly buried in a sarcophagus to when they stand before the 42 assessor gods who are each …show more content…

These declarations of innocence exhibit what ancient Egyptians thought were actions that would make someone impure and socially dirty. Even after endless trials and ordeals the deceased must undergo, Osiris still has full authority over who can be admitted to his realm and who's soul will dissipate and cease to exist. Osiris is described as a male who adorns an Atef Crown, which is a primitive Egyptian symbol for rule of the underworld. Green-black skin covers the outer layers of this divinity, and in his hand he holds an ostrich feather, which is similar to an Ankh in its meaning, and a crook and flail. These two objects are commonly seen as symbols of Osiris. The crook, which is the curved object in Osiris' right hand that is similar to the sickle in its shape, is defined as a sign of kingship, and the flail, which is an agrarian tool that Osiris holds in his left hand, is defined as a sign of the fertility of Egyptian land. These two objects show the kingship and power that Osiris held over the souls he held in the

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