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The Cult of Isis was the strongest religion in
Nubia . In contrast, the Egyptians worshipped Ra (Re) in larger
numbers. Ra was the god of the sun, and distinctly male at that.
The worship of Isis began with the Meroitic period and extended
into X-Group. Many Nubian rulers of the time were pictured with
Isis on their crowns. This was considered a homage to her role
as the "Queen of All Gods, Goddesses and Women" Since the ruler
was considered to be born of the gods, it was only natural that
the mother should be paid such a tribute. Another example of
this type of tribute is the amulet of Isis suckling a Queen.
With the exception of the Nubian/Kushite Empire, Isis was never
shown with a queen . |
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This tribute was always given to a male ruler,
never a female. However, since both Isis and the Queens played
such important roles in Nubia, the exception was made.
Another example of the reverence of Isis was the
"co-sponsorship" by Egypt and Nubia of her temple at Philae
Here her cult continued, populated largely by Nubians, until
the sixth century A.D.
Throughout Egypt and Nubia, the cult of Isis had a tremendous
and devoted following. Isis was not only the Egyptian goddess of
magical powers; she was the representation of the queen mother.
In the most famous fable of the period, Isis roams the world in
search of the corpse of her husband Osiris. She returns Osiris
to his rightful resting place, only to have Osiris' evil brother
Seth cut him to pieces and scatter him throughout the land. Isis
then takes her son Horus and sets out to find every piece of the
corpse so she may tenderly bury it in the hopes that she can
resurrect him again. She is successful, and Osiris becomes the
god of the underworld. Although Isis, Osiris, and Horus are then
established as a trinity, Isis immediately became the most
popular of the three . This can be partially attributed to her
role as the devoted, untiring, nurturer of the land and culture
of Egypt and Nubia.
In the Nubian valley, worship of the queen of all goddesses,
Isis, was paramount. From the capital of Meroe, warrior queens
fought for the interests of the Nubian/Kushite empire.
Throughout history, women were portrayed in Nubian art as the
bearers of the offspring of the gods. Today, Nubian women have a
much different experience. Nevertheless, Nubian women fulfill a
demanding and unique series of roles.
The myth of Isis and Osiris
After sett. the god of evil has killed his brother. Osiris and
scattered his carcass, the goodness Isis collected his body and
resurrected it, she became pregnant on their son Horuse. After
that she buried osiris in the land of Nuba , his head was put in
the island of phylae (Anas El Woggod ). his body was buried
allover the valley from the Falls to Khartoom and his legs
extended throughout the two branches of the Nile ,the white Nile
and the blue Nile.
Isis wept at her husband's head until her tears flooded and
rushed towards the north crushing the rocks of Aswan Falls and
the blessing and prosperity prevailed throughout the north
(Egypt ), from that moment the Nile flowed in Egypt.
Some old tellers accounted for the interest of Egypt and its
great kings immortalizing their glories in Nuba as Egypt
considered a holy land , the land of the good forefathers , so
they built monuments to be a sacrifice for thanking osiris , God
of goodness and victory concerning the Nubians .
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