Kneeling Isis Relief

Description

This sculpture shows Isis kneeling and making an offering of the ankh, the symbol of life. The name Isis means “Seat” or “Throne”. She was regarded as the symbolical mother of the King. In myth she sought her dead husband and brother, Osiris, conceived her son Horus by him, buried him and mourned him together with her sister Nephtys. Isis was regarded as the “Eye of Ra and was worshipped as the “Great of Magic” who had protected her son Horus from snakes, predators and other dangers; thus she would protect mortal children also. In the New Kingdom Isis was closely connected with Hathor whose physical attributes, the cow’s horns and sun-disk she adopted.