Myth and Folklore

King of the Dead Osiris lay in the Nile, dismembered and dishonored, as king of nothing. Overthrown from his throne on the divine council, Osiris was left an empty shell of great powerful being he had been. The weeping of Isis and Nepthys was bitter, and Osiris did not wish to hear their cries of grief as his body was pulled from the water. Their cries, however, was the saving grace of the usurped king. Ra heard the lamentations of the goddesses. He was displeased at their pain as well as the crude honor of Osiris’ murderer, Set. Ra delivered Thoth and Horus to assist the god Anubis, who was sent from heaven to reunite Osiris’ body. The severed limbs were united and then swathed in linen bandages. As Anubis sewed his arm to his hand, Osiris could feel his fingers. As his toes were placed back on his foot, he could imagine how little effort it would take to wiggle them again. When Iris flew above him and her great wings blew air into his nose, Osiris once again breathed the air of life....

The Tale of King Rhampsinitus The king decides to build a tower to hold all of his riches.  However, one of the builders put in a secret brick which could be taken out from the outside.  He grew ill and told his two sons of the secret brick.  The two brothers set forth to rob the king of his treasures.  The king was bewildered, for his guards were always vigiliant and they had even begun to set traps for the theives but alas, the treasury continued to be empty! Until one night, one of the brother's was caught.  To avoid being recognized and thus incuring the death of the other brother, he asked for his head to be cut off and taken to their mother.  The last brother did as he was asked, though it was with a heavy heart. The king was even more astounded to find the headless corpse in the tower.  He put the body on display, but the brother managed to trick the guards into drinking.  Once they were drunk, the brother stole the body back....

I choose King of the Dead, which tells the story of Osiris becoming the Judge and King of the dead as well as the origin of the mummy form of the Egyptian god. Osiris was murdered and usurped by Set.  The son of Osiris and Iris, Horus, was actually the rightful king so he raised an army against Set.  They fought and fought through all kinds of battles until Set was driven from the kingdom. Both Set and Horus are healed by the god Thoth, and Osiris returns to be crowned again.  But everyone agrees it is Horus' right to the throne. The story also says that there is another version, in which it ascribes the mummification to Osiris.  His body was in fragments, but Iris - his wife - and Nepthys are incredibly upset.  Their cries are heard by Ra, who is understanding.  He has Anubis, Thoth, and Horus come down from Heaven and reunite the pieces of Osiris before they wrap him in linen cloth.  This is the origin of Osiris as a mummy. Iris flies ab...