| What Is The Osireion? |
| The Historical Osireion The Osireion is probably the oldest architectural artifact in Egypt. Many archaeologists believe that builders stumbled across the structure buried in the desert as they began construction of the great mortuary of Seti I (1306-1290 BCE) at Abydos. The Temple of Osiris, as Seti's structure is called, was actually built around the Osireion, which was rediscovered in the 1920s during excavation by archaeologists including Flinders Petrie and Margaret Murray. Said to be older than the Great Pyramid or the Sphinx, the Osireion may even date to between 12,000 and 18,000 BCE, based on recent studies of ancient cultivated grains. Since antiquity, Abydos was believed to be the resting place of Osiris (Asar), and so was the center of his worship. The Osireion, though found in the desert, rests 50 feet beneath the foundations of Seti's temple, over a natural spring, the waters of which rise up to partially submerge the chamber inside. These waters surround a large stone block which is said to represent the land upon which Osiris rests following his birth/rebirth. Rosemary Clark explains the way the ancient Egyptians regarded the Osirian mythos: "Asar popularly represented resurrection in Graeco-Roman times, but this was an erroneous understanding of the Neter's [deity's] symbolism by outside cultures. His mythos was not concerned with the resurrection of a dead body, but the restoration of innate, natural powers to human beings as well as the renewal of the life force in the land. The popular Osirian story of his slaughter at the hands of Set, his raising from death by Auset [Isis], and his restoration to the throne of Egypt, all represent the promise of renewal through transformation. These ideas were adopted by subsequent traditions - especially the early Christian - but similarly misunderstood in all. The Egyptian concept of renewal is based on the view that death is but a phase of natural existence, rather than a condition isolated from the rest of the cycle of life. "Through thousands of years, Asar was closely related to the agricultural cycle as the Neter signifying the sprouting of the seed which has been latent, or 'hibernating,' through a cycle of time. Asar is both the fruit (the living king) and the seed (the deceased ancestor) - he is the future and the past. This is symbolized in his images as the Green God (active, renewed life [during the growing season when the Nile waters flooded the land]) and the Black or Dark God (latent life [when the Nile receded to reveal the rich black soil]). He is thus the entire cycle of renewal, rather than an episode within it. . . . "This sacred place provides us with a scenario that depicts even more than the experience of death and renewal. It also represents the realization of timeless time, the eternal cycle encompassing the events of life and death as well as the fundamental permanence and survival of the life force possessed by all of the living. (The Sacred Tradition in Ancient Egypt, Clark, 2000) Links to more about The Osireion |
| Osireion.com -- exists to provide refreshment, inspiration and illumination to all who travel the path of the seeker. We are committed to being a bridge between beliefs, to revealing ways we may live in harmony with and postively make use of the life force the ancient Egyptians believed inherent in every part of creation. If you have questions, ideas, or contributions, feel free to contact The Osireion. Visit as often as you seek the primeval waters. Take back new life and share with others. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|