The Osiris Myth

The Osiris myth was one of the most prominent and influential myths in ancient Egypt; it permeated virtually every aspect of ancient Egyptian life.  While a singular manuscript of the myth remains elusive, allusions to the myth are abundant in a number of ancient Egyptian sources including the Pyramid Texts, the Coffin Texts, and the Book of the Dead.  In the early 1900s, Scottish journalist and folklorist, Donald Alexander McKenzie, compiled the scattered elements of the myth into a unified historical narrative, which serves as the source of today's audio recording.

In the myth, the god Set, jealous of his brother Osiris’s kingship over Egypt, concocts a cunning plan to kill him.  At a grand royal feast, Set unveils an exquisitely adorned chest, declaring that the one who perfectly fits its dimensions shall claim it as a prize.  One by the one, the guests attempt to fit within the chest, but none succeed until the benevolent king Osiris fits flawlessly inside. Seizing the opportunity, Set’s malevolent followers spring up, ruthlessly nailing the chest shut, tragically suffocating Osiris.  Set secretly orders his followers to dump the coffin into the Nile river.  Devastated by the loss, Isis, Osiris’ queen consort, tirelessly searches the riverbank for any trace of the chest or her beloved’s remains.

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