The Egyptian Myth of Creation

The Egyptian Myth of Creation

The Story of Osiris, Isis and Horus

From Geb, the sky god, and Nut, the earth goddess came four children: Osiris, Isis, Set and Nepthys. Osiris was the oldest and so became King of Egypt, and he married his sister Isis. Osiris was a good King and commanded the respect of all who lived on the earth and the gods who dwelled in the netherworld.

Multiple Choice

Who was the God of the Sky?

• Geb

• Nut

• Osiris

• Isis

However, Set was always jealous of Osiris, because he did not command the respect of those on earth or those in the netherworld. One day, Set transformed himself into a vicious monster and attacked Osiris, killing him. Set then cut Osiris into pieces and distributed them throughout the length and breadth of Egypt.

Multiple Choice

What did Set turn himself into before he killed Osiris?

• Sponge Bob Square Pants

• Scooby Doo

• A vicious monster

• Gumball Watterson

With Osiris dead, Set became King of Egypt, with his sister Nepthys as his wife. Nepthys, however, felt sorry for her sister Isis, who wept endlessly over her lost husband. Isis, who had great magical powers, decided to find her husband and bring him back to life long enough so that they could have a child. Together with Nepthys, Isis roamed the country, collecting the pieces of her husband's body and reassembling them. Once she completed this task, she breathed the breath of life into his body and resurrected him. They were together again, and Isis became pregnant soon after. Osiris was able to descend into the underworld, where he became the lord of that domain.

Multiple Choice

Who went with Isis to seek out Osiris?

• Horus

• Osiris

• Alla Pugacheva

• Nepthys

The child born to Isis was named Horus, the hawk-god. When he became an adult, Horus decided to make a case before the court of gods that he, not Set, was the rightful King of Egypt. A long period of argument followed, and Set challenged Horus to a contest. The winner would become King.

Multiple Choice

What was the name of Osiris's and Iris's child?

• Osirisis

• Risiosis

• Horus

• Showusfemoni

Set, however, did not play fair. After several matches in which Set cheated and was the victor, Horus' mother, Isis, decided to help her son and set a trap for Set. She snared him, but Set begged for his life, and Isis let him go. When he found out that she had let his enemy live, Horus became angry with his mother, and rages against her, earning him the contempt of the other gods. They decided that there would be one more match, and Set would get to choose what it would be.

Multiple Choice

Why did Horus become angry with his mother Isis?

• Because she burnt the pizza

• Because she captured Set

• Because she let Set go

• Because she made him do his homework

Set decided that the final round of the contest would be a boat race. However, in order to make the contest a challenge, Set decided that he and Horus should race boats made of stone. Horus was tricky and built a boat made of wood, covered with limestone plaster, which looked like stone. As the gods assembled for the race, Set cut the top off of a mountain to serve as his boat and set it in the water. His boat sank right away, and all the other gods laughed at him. Angry, Set transformed himself into a hippopotamus and attacked Horus' boat. Horus fought off Set, but the other gods stopped him before he could kill Set. The other gods decided that the match was a tie. Many of the gods were sympathetic to Horus, but remembered his anger toward his mother for being lenient to Set, and were unwilling to support him completely.

Multiple Choice

How did the Gods decide to settle the dispute between Set and Horus?

• Horus could choose a boxing match

• Set could choose a boat race

• The gods chose a swimming race

• Set chose a running competition

Open Ended

Describe in your own words how Horus beat Set.

The gods who formed the court decided to write a letter to Osiris and ask for his advice. Osiris responded with a definite answer: his son is the rightful king, and should be placed upon the throne. No one, said Osiris, should take the throne of Egypt through an act of murder, as Set had done. Set had killed Osiris, but Horus did not killed anyone, and was the better candidate. The sun and the stars, who were Osiris' allies, descended into the underworld, leaving the world in darkness. Finally, the gods agreed that Horus should claim his birthright as King of Egypt.

Multiple Select

Who were involved in the decision about Set and Horus? (there are 2 answers)

• The gods in a court

• Osiris

• Isis

• Nephys

Multiple Choice

Who was finally made King of the Egypt?

• Isis

• Osiris

• Horus

• Set