| Isis
(mythology), Egyptian goddess of fertility and
motherhood, and the sister-wife of Osiris. Ancient
stories described Isis as having great magical
skill. Egyptian mythology represented her as
human in form, often wearing the horns of a cow.
Her personality resembled that of Hathor, goddess
of love and gaiety. The cult of Isis spread from
Alexandria throughout the Hellenistic world after
the 4th century BC, and to Rome around 86 BC. Extremely popular in Rome,
Isis worship was suppressed because its priestly
rites were seen as immoral. The cult died out in
Rome after the institution of Christianity, and
the last remaining Egyptian temples to Isis were
closed in the middle of the 6th century AD.
Circular, winged Isis painting
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Isis (above, left), at the Embalment
Isis (right) Guides Nefertari
Isis, Goddess of Ancient Egypt
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