Osiris

Scott Nogel on Osiris
Pat Podzorski on Osiris

Osiris is the Egyptian god of the Underworld, known as the god of death and rebirth. He is depicted in human form, wrapped as a mummy (known as mummiform), and crowned with the distinctive Atef crown. The Atef crown has a tall conical shape with a plume on each side and ram's horns at its base. Osiris holds the two scepters of kingship, the crook and the flail. In ancient Egypt, the living pharaoh was associated with Horus and later with Re-Horakhty. However, after the pharaoh's death he was seen as a manifestation of Osiris.

Osiris has many possible meanings: "old one," "he who occupies the throne," "mighty one," and "husband to Isis." The Djed pillar is a symbol of Osiris, and it represents stability. Osiris's first appearance is in the Pyramid Texts of the Fifth Dynasty. His center of worship is Abydos.

Originally a god of vegetation, his role in the vegetation cycle became intertwined with a literal death and resurrection myth told in the legend of Seth and Osiris, two feuding brothers. Seth, god of Chaos, kills his brother Osiris, by cutting him into pieces and then spreads his dismembered body throughout the land of Egypt. Isis, the consort of Osiris, gathers up his body, and, using magical incantations which she stole from Re, she revives Osiris long enough to conceive a child, Horus. Horus is raised in secrecy until he is old enough to avenge his father.

Consort: the spouse of royalty.