The Mystery of Osiris in the Tombs
The Mystery of Osiris in the Tombs
The Mystery of Osiris a mystery from later temple inscriptions dating back to Roman times is based on ancient Egyptian mythology Among these inscriptions are those from the six chapels of Osiris at Dendera In these temples a ritual was performed to create small mummies known as Osiris the Lifeless which were solemnly preserved for a year These mummies were buried in specially constructed tombs called Osiris or the Tomb of Osiris
The tomb consists of a chamber supported by five columns and a staircase leading down to a lower rock formation to a complex of buildings dedicated to Osiris It was discovered by the Min Project a joint Italian-Spanish and Egyptian government project aimed at studying the New Kingdom tombs in Thebes This includes private cemetery TT109 also known as Min's cemetery and Kampp-327 an extension of an earlier cemetery.
The tomb complex identified with the Pharaoh Djer as the burial site of Osiris is believed to have later transformed the site into a center of the cult of the god Osiris It was first excavated by the French cryptologist archaeologist and Egyptologist Émile Amélineau and later re-excavated by the British Egyptologist Flinders Petrie He pioneered a systematic approach to archaeology and the conservation of antiquities identifying the tomb of Pharaoh King Djer Although not the burial site of Osiris the ancient necropolis of Djer was transformed into an important pilgrimage site during the Middle Kingdom to honor Osiris and is one of the oldest and most important royal burials representing the first pharaoh of Egypt
This mystery arose when the Nile River began to recede The mysterious Osiris rituals in the month of Koiak were associated with and after the fall of the ancient kingdom Abydos became the center of Osiris beliefs A model of the legendary tomb of Osiris, over 3,200 years old is located in the tomb of Sheikh Abdul Qurna a necropolis in the Thebes district of the West Bank.
The tomb was modeled after the legendary tomb of Osiris and was intended to celebrate the mysteries of the god. Beneath the statue of Osiris, the team found the tomb's burial chamber and adjacent rooms decorated with bas-reliefs depicting demons and gods.
Egyptian "corn mummy" private collection, ptolemaic period.
The black basalt sarcophagus was discovered on January 2, 1898, by amateur excavator Emil Amelino in the southwestern corner of a necropolis in Umm el-Ghaab (the ancient city of Abydos). Amelino assumed it was originally the tomb of Osiris.
Every year public processions and secret rituals are held there imitating the Passion of Osiris The Mysteries of Osiris are largely derived from later temple inscriptions dating back to the Roman era. Among these are inscriptions from the six chapels of Osiris at Dendera Since the Middle Kingdom an annual religious festival had been held at Abydos depicting the martyrdom and resurrection of Osiris during secret rituals Most of the Mysteries of Osiris held in the month of Koyak took place inside temples away from the pagan gaze Only the Mysteries of Dendera carved on the wall of one of the six Osiris temples of the Roman temple of Hathor records the essence of these ritual gestures
