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First son of Geb and Nut, god of the Earth and goddess of the
Sky, and husband of Isis.
Osiris took his teachings to many other countries
after civilising Egypt. Upon his return he fell victim to a plot by
Seth, his brother. Seth had a coffin which he jokingly suggested his
brother should try for size. Once Osiris was inside it, the coffin was
sealed by his evil brother and thrown into the Nile. Isis retrieved
the body of her husband, but Seth stole it and, worried that his brother
could still be a threat, he cut the body into fourteen pieces, scattering
them about the land. Isis searched for the remains of Osiris and, with
the aid of Anubis, joined them together and mummified the body after
reviving it sufficiently to conceive Horus.
Osiris ruled over the Court of the Dead and his effigy
in mummy wrappings is a symbol of resurrection.
It was before Osiris, the dead had to declare themselves
free of imperfection before they could enter into his enlightened state.
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