Sunday, December 25, 2011

How did the Ancient Egyptians Celebrate December 25?


Statue of Isis Suckling Horus, Bronze (664-332 BC)

The virgin mother Isis and her son Horus (20 BC)

I re-posted this from last year because I thought it would be very appropriate for today. Happy holidays to everyone! Thank you all for your support of Being Cleopatra and my CD, Cleopatra's Voice!

In the ancient Egyptian traditions it was customary to celebrate the birth of Horus who was born on, the equivalent, to our 25th of December in around 3000 BC.

Let me set up the story: Set, Nephtys, Osiris and Isis were the four children born from the Sky Goddess, Nut, and fathered by the Sun God, Ra. Osiris was not only a god, but he also became the first king of Egypt and married his sister Isis who gave birth to Horus. However, Isis was still said to be a virgin mother. Legend has it that Osiris was killed by his brother, Set, and his body was cut into 14 pieces which were dispersed through Egypt. Isis retrieved the remains of her husband and was able to conceive Horus.

She went into hiding in the marshes of the Nile Delta, and gave birth to Horus, the Son of God, under Sirus, the brightest star in the sky located in the eastern sky.

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