For week 4, I've decided to read the section on Egyptian myths. The list of gods in Egyptian culture is pretty extensive, so I realize I won't get to all of them, but here are the ones I've chosen to focus on.
The first one I liked a lot was the Secret Name of Ra. I thought it was interesting how rather than being immortal, all-powerful gods, they (specifically Ra) are portrayed like humans, growing old and decrepit. The way the gods are depicted makes me see why the Egyptians put so much faith in them; the stories about them make them so relatable.
The gods also have their own desires and personalities as we see in Isis. She's willing to kill the most powerful god, the one who started everything, just so she can hear his secret name and take his power. This perfectly captures certain aspects of humanity. Some are willing to do whatever it takes to rise to power.
The next one I found interesting was the story of Osiris and how he rises to power. Osiris is described as a king amongst men, one who ushered mankind into a civilized age. With Isis' help, he taught the people of Egypt how to grow wheat and fruit so they could have a steady supply of food instead of having to constantly hunt for food. It is explained that Osiris then went out in the world and persuaded the men of the world to give up their evil ways with gentle words. That's not something you often hear when talking about gods in mythology, so it was a nice change from death and rage!
The first one I liked a lot was the Secret Name of Ra. I thought it was interesting how rather than being immortal, all-powerful gods, they (specifically Ra) are portrayed like humans, growing old and decrepit. The way the gods are depicted makes me see why the Egyptians put so much faith in them; the stories about them make them so relatable.
The gods also have their own desires and personalities as we see in Isis. She's willing to kill the most powerful god, the one who started everything, just so she can hear his secret name and take his power. This perfectly captures certain aspects of humanity. Some are willing to do whatever it takes to rise to power.
The next one I found interesting was the story of Osiris and how he rises to power. Osiris is described as a king amongst men, one who ushered mankind into a civilized age. With Isis' help, he taught the people of Egypt how to grow wheat and fruit so they could have a steady supply of food instead of having to constantly hunt for food. It is explained that Osiris then went out in the world and persuaded the men of the world to give up their evil ways with gentle words. That's not something you often hear when talking about gods in mythology, so it was a nice change from death and rage!
Osiris, commonly depicted with green skin and holding a crook and flail.
Lastly, I liked the King of the Dead section. This is the first time in the unit that Osiris is mentioned as being in a mummified form. He tells Horus, Isis' son, to avenge his death at the hands of Set, Horus' uncle. In a series of battles, Horus defeats Set, but loses an eye in the process. It is also explained that Ra sent down Anubis to piece Osiris back together. He then becomes the god of the underworld, the Judge and King of the Dead.
Horus is often depicted as a hawk or falcon.
No comments:
Post a Comment