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Osiris the god of the afterlife was worshipped as early as the Fifth Dynasty. Many known facts about the god come from the Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts. Osiris and Isis were thought about the original king and queen of Egypt.
Osiris received the throne after his father Geb stepped down. It was said at first Egyptians were barbarians and cannibals. This upset the god Osiris, so he taught the Egyptians what to eat, how to plant, and how worship gods. Osiris even gave the Ancient Egyptians laws.
Osiris traveled the lands to educate others on what he had educated the Egyptians with. He left Isis his sister-wife as his regent.
Osiris was the oldest son of Geb and Nut. He was brother and husband to Isis, and was brother to Seth and Nephthys.
The god was father to Horus and Anubis. Nephthys his sister, tricked him into thinking she was Isis because she really wanted a child and her own husband-brother Seth was infertile.
Osiris slept with Nephthys and Anubis was conceived. Nephthys was worried about Seth and that he might kill the little one, so she persuaded Isis to adopt Anubis.
Horus was born after Osiris's death. Osiris was killed by his brother Seth because he was jealous and wanted to rule Egypt. Because the god spent so much time travelling all over the lands, Seth had plenty of time to find conspirators against Osiris.
Seth and 72 conspirators murdered the Osiris. They tossed him in a box into the Nile. Isis discovered his body, however before she got a chance to bring him back to life, or bury him, Seth in a rage torn his body and sprinkled the parts all over Egypt.
Isis located all the pieces of Osiris's body. With the help of Anubis, Isis, briefly carried him back to life by making use of a spell she had learned. This incantation enabled Isis to become pregnant by having the new king Horus.
Osiris in death became the king of the afterlife. Because he died and was resurrected, the god was connected with the flooding and retreating of the Nile, and the crops along the valley. He was known to the Egyptians as Lord of Love.
Osiris was usually depicted as a green-skinned (the colour of rebirth) man with a pharaoh's beard, with mummy-wrapped legs, and donned an Atef crown with two feathers at either side. And he was usually portrayed holding a symbolic crook and flail.
The Egyptian pharaoh's thought they were joined with Osiris once they passed away, and meant eternal life.
Osiris's soul (ba) was even worshipped on it's own, especially in the city of Mendes.
Numerous events were held in honor of Osiris. One festival was held on November 13th commemorating the fatality of the god, it was the same day that grain was planted in the ground.
Check out about-ancient-egypt.com for more information on this amazing culture.
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