History 1-14e—Legend of Osiris
The Legend of Osiris
In the years of long ago, in the time before time, the gods walked the earth with
men, Re, the great god of the sun, and his wife, Nut, ruled the gods. One day,
however, Re became angry with Nut. He punished her by forbidding her to
have children on any of the 360 days that made up their year. Nut was
sorrowful. She longed for children, but her husband’s decree must be obeyed.
She sought help from Thoth, the god of wisdom. He persuaded the moon to
give him part of its light. The light the moon gave added five days to the year.
Now Nut could fulfill her husband’s decree and still have children on the five
extra days of the year. On that first extra day Nut bore Osiris. On the second
day Horus was born, Set on the third, Isis the fourth, and Nephthys on the fifth
day. At the time of Osiris’s birth, a loud voice proclaimed to all the world, “The
lord of all the earth is born.”
Osiris became the ruler of the world of men. He was just, honest, and good. He
married Isis, and the two of them taught men how to farm and how to worship
the gods. Peace reigned.
But all was not well. Set. The brother of Isis, was proud. Set was angry. Envy
grew in his heart, envy of his brother, Osiris. He desired Osiris’s throne. He
desired Osiris’s wife, and he desired Osiris’s power.
He made a plan to destroy Osiris. He made a strong, magic box. The magic in
the box made it fit Osiris exactly. No other man could lie in it. Then Set planned
a feast. He invited everyone—the gods and men. He showed the box to the
people at the feast. It was beautiful and desirable. He told those assembled
that he would give the box to the person who best fit inside it. One by one the
guests lay in the box. But the magic in the box allowed it to fit no one but Osiris.
For some the box was too big. For some it was too little. Then Osiris, who also
admired the box, tried to lie in it. It fit him exactly.
Instantly Set slammed the box closed and his friends nailed it tight. The magic in
the box kept Osiris from fighting his way out. Set threw the box in the Nile River
and it floated away. The guests at the feast were stunned. Osiris was a wellloved king. But nobody dared to speak, to work, or to fight in his behalf. They
were all afraid of Set.
The kingdom of Egypt suffered. The crops would not grow; men quarreled with
each other and envied each other. But Set was happy.
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History 1-14e—Legend of Osiris
Isis, however, was not afraid of Set. Her love for Osiris made her strong and
brave. She searched up and down the Nile for the box that contained her
husband. Finally she found it lodged in a great tree by the side of the river.
Osiris was dead, and Isis wept.
But she did not give up. She went to Thoth, god of wisdom and knowledge.
Thoth searched through all his magic. He knew Osiris’s spirit was lost, but if he
could recreate his body so the spirit could recognize it, the spirit would come
again into Osiris’s body. Together Thoth and Isis planned the Ritual of Life,
through which Osiris could be brought again to life.
Before they could perform their ritual, Set discovered them. He was angry. He
stole Osiris’s body and cut it into pieces. He hid the pieces all over Egypt and
laughed. He thought Osiris was forever lost.
But he had not remembered Isis, Isis who loved Osiris. She wept and called on
her sister, Nephthys, for help. Together for many years they searched all the
land of Egypt—in the desert, in the fertile valleys of the Nile, and in the river itself.
Even under the ground they searched. And they found all the pieces of Osiris.
Every time they found a piece of Isis’s beloved Osiris, they built an altar to the
gods. They sent the pieces to Thoth, who sent them to Anubis, the god of the
dead. Anubis carefully sewed the pieces back together, embalmed the body,
and performed the Ritual of Life by opening Osiris’s mouth. Osiris’s spirit
reentered his body, and Osiris lived again. Anubis gave his throne to Osiris, and
Osiris ruled the land of the dead, judging men as they entered his kingdom. If
they were just and upright, he sent them to the Blessed Land. But if they were
wicked, he sent them away.
Set, however, continued to laugh. Yes, Osiris was living, but he could not enter
the world of men. Once a person had died, he could live only in the land of the
dead. Set felt there was no one who could destroy him and his kingdom.
Still Isis did not despair. Not long after Osiris was reborn, Isis was delivered of a
baby boy—Osiris’s son. She named him Horus after her brother and hid him on
an island far from Set’s sight. Horus was a goodly boy. He grew strong and
manly and was loved by all who knew him. He grew knowing that some day he
must fight Set and return the throne to his father’s house.
Finally the day came. Horus was a man. It was time to do the work of his father
and regain his kingdom. Horus challenged his uncle, and the two fought for
many days. The battle was frightful, but at last Horus won. He refused to kill his
uncle, lest he become like Set. He appealed to the gods, asking who should
rule. The gods gave Horus the throne and cast Set into darkness.
© 2012 American Heritage Schools, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted for copying of the notebook pages and other online resources for
use by the original purchaser’s own immediate family. No part of this publication may be transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
History 1-14e—Legend of Osiris
Set was not content to stay in darkness, however. Whenever he could, he
fought again with Horus. Sometimes he was victorious. At those times the world
was in turmoil. War reigned and men walked in fear. However, they knew that
Horus would not give up his father’s throne; they knew that he would return and
earth would again become peaceful.
Men say that in the last of all times, Horus and Set will fight one last time. In this
great and last battle, Horus will defeat Set forever. Osiris will come back to the
land of the living. The tombs of the just will be opened and all sorrow will pass.
Then Osiris and Horus will rule together forever and their kingdom will be one of
peace and plenty.
Compiled from many versions of the story, especially the version found at
http://www.touregypt.net/godsofegypt/legendofosiris.htm
© 2012 American Heritage Schools, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted for copying of the notebook pages and other online resources for
use by the original purchaser’s own immediate family. No part of this publication may be transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.