Alright guys, let's talk serious for a moment. I know that ISIS is currently a very uncomfortable topic for most people. I've read articles about Nutella refusing to print a customized jar for a girl named Isis out of fear that it would be associated with ISIS. I myself had a friend advise me to get rid of mentioning the goddess Isis in Lovesick out of worry that it would bring to mind the terrorist organization.
To quote a very wise fictional wizard: "Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself."
Isis was a goddess in ancient Egypt long before the acronym ISIS came into being. She was a deity of duty, honor, and beauty, and is one of my favorite mythological characters.
I refuse to allow all mention of her to be automatically associated with ISIS, and so I'm going to do a blog post that instead focuses on the positive being behind the name. I hope, in time, that more people will remember Isis the goddess than ISIS the group.
That having been said, here's the post:
The story of Isis' birth is very interesting to me, and it helps to explain some of the mysticism possessed by the goddess. I mentioned in my post last week that the god of the earth, Geb, had four children with the goddess of the sky, Nut. These children were Isis, Osiris, Nepthys, and Set. While this is technically true, it is only true in some versions of the myth. It is to another version of the story of their birth that I wish to turn.
The story goes that Nut was originally married to Ra, god of the sun. Unfortunately for Ra, Nut fell in love with the god Geb.
The two conceived four children together, but Ra found out about their union before the babies could be born. Enraged by Nut's infidelity, Ra cursed her so that her babies could not be born in any month of any year.
Now, most women who become pregnant eventually reach the point where they are fed up and just want the baby out of them. This is especially true around the last trimester when the baby is biggest.
Imagine that there are four children inside of you.
Imagine that you have a due date for them. The end is in sight, and there is much rejoicing!
Then imagine that you are cursed so that you can never get the kids out. You'll have to carry them around, for all eternity.
Understandably, Nut freaked out.
Luckily for Nut, she was a very beautiful woman and a lot of gods loved her. When she approached Thoth, the god of knowledge, she found her solution. Thoth was willing to do anything for Nut, and he was very clever. The god made a bet with the goddess of the moon and won, allowing him to take some of her light. Thoth used this light to create 5 days outside of the normal calendar, allowing Nut to give birth to one child each day. One of these children was Isis.
Isis grew up and embraced the mystical nature that surrounded her birth. She became the goddess of magic, but she was also the embodiment of all that was considered good in both a wife and a mother. She was dutiful and loyal above all else. My post last week talked about Isis' quest to resurrect her husband/brother Osiris. In the process she became pregnant with his child (possibly conceived while Osiris was dead, but hey, let's not dwell on the creepy past). Let us turn now to an adventure Isis had while pregnant with Horus, one which highlights her more compassionate, mothering nature.
After reassembling Osiris' body and raising him from the dead (after a fashion), Isis was found by a furious Set. The god trapped her in his house, intending to hold her prisoner until Horus was born.
Luckily for Isis, Thoth was looking out for her. He found where she was imprisoned and set the goddess free, advising her to run to the Delta area and hide until Horus was born. Isis took his advice and set out.
Another deity, the goddess Selket, also lent her aid to Isis.
Selket was the goddess of scorpions, but she was also represented as the protector of the throne and kings...and the unborn Horus was the rightful king of Egypt. As such, Selket sent seven giant scorpions to escort Isis and Horus to safety.
In the midst of their journey night fell, and Isis grew weary. She sought shelter at the home of one of the leaders of a town. Unfortunately, when the wife of the owner saw the scorpions accompanying the goddess she panicked and refused.
This refusal really pissed Selket off. After all, here was a goddess carrying the rightful king of the gods, and this mortal had the audacity to refuse her shelter? Nuh-uh. Not happening. So Selket had six of her scorpions transfer their venom to the seventh (apparently making an uber-venom), and then sent that scorpion into the woman's home. It sought out the woman's young son and stung him, immediately bringing him close to death.
When the woman realized what had happened she carried her son out into the street, crying and lamenting. His demise was imminent, but Isis heard the cries of the grieving mother and took pity on her. She went to the boy and used her magic, instantly healing him. She and the scorpions then took their leave and hid far from civilization until Horus was born.
That is the Isis that I like to remember.
What do you guys think of the goddess?
I'll see you next week with a post continuing the adventures of the divine family!
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