#isis deity

"An inscription marking the rebuilding of a temple at Malcesine notes a dedication to both Cybele (Matri Deum) and Isis for the temple. In this instance, there appears to have been a single temple to both the goddesses, and that they were sharing a ritual space in some capacity. The date for this inscription is unknown, so where the inscription falls in the timeline is unclear, but would seem to provide an example of the cults of Isis and Cybele interacting in a convergent manner. […] Vermaseren further notes a temple of Isis at Eritria that housed and shared space with Cybele."

“Both Cybele and Isis share the epithet of being mother gods. Cybele’s other Latin names by which she is referred, Magna Mater and Mater Deum, literally mean “Great Mother” and “Mother of the Gods.” Isis is occasionally found to have such titles attached to her as well, with an Alexandrian priest of “Isis the Great Mother of the Gods” being attested in the second century BCE, and a dedication at Delos to “Isis, Mother of the Gods, Astarte. In Book XI of Apuleius’ Metamorphoses, the narrator Lucius has a vision of Isis, who tells him of all the other names she is known by, including the “Mother of gods at Pessinus” to the Phrygians, a reference to her and Cybele being one and the same. With Apuleius writing in the century following the destruction of Pompeii, and possibly being an initiate of the cult, this could indicate at least some association between the goddesses within the cult of Isis by that point.”

“The mythological backgrounds concerning Cybele and Isis also offer some points of convergence to consider. The story of Cybele and her consort Attis involves the latter going mad and castrating himself, resulting in his death. Cybele then repents her actions, which caused Attis’ madness, and asks Zeus to grant that Attis’ body “should neither rot nor decay.” The idea of Attis surviving, though not necessarily being resurrected, is an idea that carried on into the Roman adaptation of the cult; that Attis is “saved from dissolution” and that “his disappearance is neither total nor final.” When the Romans adopted Cybele, a “strong emphasis” was put on fertility... Attis, though not necessarily deified, also has some impact on the idea of fertility in the cult of Cybele, as his cycle of sleep and reawakening in the mythological context is likened to seasonal changes as they pertain to agriculture. A strong similarity is present with the cult of Isis, as her husband Osiris is killed and then dismembered by his brother Set. Isis eventually restores his dismembered body, except for the phallus, and he is restored to life by the gods. Like Attis, Osiris’ restoration from death brings about the equation with seasonal fertility cycles.”

“A variety of different iconographic examples of Cybele and lions, in particular Cybele riding or being pulled in a chariot by a lion or lions, can be found throughout the Mediterranean world. Within the riding type, there are specifically the images of Cybele riding a lion in a side-saddle pose as the lion is shown bounding towards the right of the image. This type of iconography appears commonly within the Roman context. [...] While these examples are all from the second century CE or later, there is evidence to suggest that this iconographic image was used in conjunction with Cybele even earlier, with Cybele/Rhea being identified as the goddess riding a lion in a similar pose on the Pergammon Altar, constructed in the second century BCE. This intersects with Isis during the reign of Vespasian, when a coin was produced that included an image of the Iseum Campense on the reverse of the coin. On the pediment is an image that bears a striking resemblance to the images of Cybele riding a lion, but is identified by Turcan as being Isis riding the dog Sothis. Fourth century vota publica coins also bear the images of Isis seated on Sothis in a similar manner, this time clearly holding a cornucopia as well, which brings it even more in line with many of the Cybele images of this type. The significance, if any, of this parallel in imagery is not readily apparent, but it does provide what would appear to be an additional point of convergence in the cults, even if that convergence is just on a superficial level. The incomplete and fragmentary nature of the archaeological record makes it difficult to determine the exact time when each of these cults begins using this type of image, but would seem to stretch back to at least around the time of her importation to Rome with Cybele...”

"Also at Rhamnous, two votive inscriptions to Agdistis and Isis dating to the second and third centuries CE have been found. The legacy of shared space may go back even further, as a Hellenistic shrine to Cybele and Attis at Amphipolis, in Macedonia, was found to contain votive figures and a relief of Cybele, as well as a dedicatory inscription to Isis, Serapis, and Adonis. Again, the documentation provided for the Amphipolis example gives little contextual detail, and so only provides tentative evidence, but still lends some possible credence to the idea of convergence between the cults in this manner."

Parents and Siblings

Geb and Nut

Osiris (brother)

Set (brother)

Nephthys (sister)

Horus the Elder (brother)

Lovers or Partners

Osiris is most commonly noted as her husband

Min

Serapis

Horus the Elder

Children

Horus (the younger)

Min

Four Sons of Horus

Bastet (sometimes)

Isis had many names (see image for her name in Hieroglyphs), often these doubled as titles that described her role.

The Divine One

The Queen of all Gods

Queen of Heaven

The Maker of Sunrise

Mother of God

Khut: giver of light at the beginning of a new year

Usert: goddess of the earth

Thenenet: goddess of the Tuat (the underworld)

Satis: the Nile flood’s power

Ankhet: providing fertility from the waters and embracer of the land

Kekhet: goddess of the fields and the cultivated areas

Renenet: goddess of the harvest

Tcheft: goddess of the food offered to the gods by humans

Ament: lady of the underworld who restored the bodies of the dead so they could live with Osiris in his kingdom.

Notes

Other names given to the goddess are Aset, Aust, Eenohebis, Eset, Esu, Hesat, Iahu, Unt, Urethekau, and Werethekau.

Her name has been debated to mean “throne” or “the seat”

There are no known references to Isis before the 5th Dynasty. Starting in obscurity, she became one of the most popular Kemetic deities, with a reach far beyond Egypt. This gave her many associations over time.

She is a psychopomp, leading the dead to the afterlife, which relates to her husband Osiris.

Often given the role or title of “mourner”, she was mentioned in the rites of the dead.

While being associated with death, she was also heavily associated with healing and magic, these two associations becoming more prominent as time went on and she gained popularity.

Isis is often conflated with fellow Kemetic goddess, Hathor, who she shares a likeness with in many ways and eventually usurped power as the most popular goddess in Egypt.

In one tale, it is said that Isis tricked Ra into revealing his true name to her, and as such gave her his magical abilities.

Seen as the ideal mother, the ideal wife, and all around ideal woman of the time, Isis gained popularity amongst high society and the common folk alike.

Her primary temples were in Behbeit el-Hagar and Philae, though she was often worshipped in many other temples, even in those not dedicated to her, but on a more minor level.

Due to her many associations, she also eventually came to be seen as the patron goddess of sea-farers.

Weaving, baking, and brewing beer are associated with her as well, as is the star Sirius and the kite falcon and the rearing cobra.

Festivals of Isis in Roman times were held on December 25, January 6, and March 5. Lychnapsia has also been suggested to be a festival dedicated to Isis.

Unlike many Kemetic deities, whose clergy were required to be of the same gender as the god, men and women both served in Isis’ temples.

In Greece her cult developed into a Mystery Religion and it held strong all throughout the Mediterranean until the 6th century CE.

Isis was said to conceal herself as an old or injured woman begging for alms.

Correspondences

Any traditional correspondence will be marked with a (T).

Rocks/Stone/Crystals

Bronze, red jasper (T), gold

Herbs/Plants

Acacia, persea, and date palm (sacred trees in Ancient Egypt), lotus, wheat

Cobra (T)

Scorpion (T)

Kite (or kestrel) (T)

Offerings

Beer (T)

Wine (T)

Honey (T)

Clean Water

Incense

Milk (T)

Perfume

Acts of Devotion

Practicing magic

Practicing medicine

Donating to charities involving healing or protecting those in need

Creating or reciting poems, hymns, songs, or prayers to Isis

References and Further Reading

Ancient Egypt Online - Isis

Britannica - Isis

The Complete Gods And Goddesses of Ancient Egypt by Umair Mirza

Wikipedia - Isis

World History Encyclopedia - Isis

Center for Hellenic Studies - Isis

Isiopolis (A votive work for Isis)