Osiris.Osiris, c, 1539-1300 BC. Deir el-Medina, Luxor Thebes, Egypt. Photograph[C] Erich Lessing. Art Resource, NY. This depiction of Osiris presents him in the typical combined profile/frontal view. He carries the crook and flail, emblems of kingship, and wears the crown of Upper Egypt, adorned a·dorn tr.v. a·dorned, a·dorn·ing, a·dorns 1. To lend beauty to: "the pale mimosas that adorned the favorite promenade" Ronald Firbank. 2. with two feathers. Above him on either side are the eye of Horus The Eye of Horus (previously wadjet and the Eye of the Moon; and afterward as The Eye of Ra)[1] is an ancient Egyptian symbol of protection and royal power from deities, in this case from Horus or Ra. , a symbol of eternity. On rods on either side of Osiris are the skins of the pied pied a coat color in dogs that consists of uneven patches or spots of color on a white or cream background. bull, an animal sacred to Osiris. The skins represent a sacrifice indicative of the sanctity of the ceremony of entrance into the afterlife. On a small table before Osiris is an offering of an unguent unguent /un·guent/ (ung´gwent) ointment. un·guent n. A soothing or medicinal salve. un jar (an ointment ointment /oint·ment/ (oint´ment) a semisolid preparation for external application to the skin or mucous membranes, usually containing a medicinal substance. oint·ment n. used on the mummy) and lotus blossoms. Above the dais on which Osiris stands are serpent heads bearing the solar disk, related to the god of life, Ra, another symbol of eternal life. Tombs of ancient Egyptians This is a list of ancient Egyptian people who have articles on Wikipedia. A
Osiris, the lord of the underworld, was one of the most important Egyptian gods. He began life as an earthly king, but was killed (twice) by his evil brother Set. Osiris was revived twice by his wife/sister Isis who was a powerful magician. Horus, their falcon-headed son, became the avenger of his father, for, after being revived a second time, Osiris could no longer rule in the physical world and was given dominion over the world of the dead. Horus defeated Set in battle, losing an eye in the process. Horus served his father as a ferryman of the dead into the afterlife. Osiris was thought to preside over a ceremony wherein the deceased was judged worthy to enter into the afterlife. Osiris was considered a merciful mer·ci·ful adj. Full of mercy; compassionate: sought merciful treatment for the captives. See Synonyms at humane. mer god. Depictions of Osiris in tombs, such as this one, show tables laden with offerings by the deceased's family as tribute to his mercy. Questions What visual elements are repeated? How are the parts arranged? Where is the center of interest in this painting? How many different colors can you identify? Karl Cole is curator of Davis Art Slides, a division of Davis Publications, Inc., in Worcester, Massachusetts. |
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