The origins of Osiris and his cult (Studies in the history of religions)

This book is a revised and enlarged version of a work which appeared as Volume 9 of the series Miinchner Agyptologische Studien, edited by Professors Hans Wolfgang Muller and Wolfhart Westendorf and published in Berlin in 1966 by Bruno Hessling. It has long since been out of print. I am indebted to Professor M. Heerma van Voss for his kind invitation to contribute the new version to the present series. On behalf of the previous publishers professor Hans Wolfgang Muller has graciously agreed to this arrangement. THE ORIGINS OF OSIRIS AND HIS CULT CONTENTS Preface Abbreviated References I. THE ORIGINAL MYTH The Egyptian Treatment of Myth The Pyramid Texts Osiris and the Horus-myth The Basic Funerary Situation The Death of Osiris The Seeking and Finding The Birth of Horus Sopd Osiris and Byblos The Ancillary Deities The Rite of Royal Burial The Divine Titles II. THE ORIGINAL CULT Its Antiquity Relation to the Deceased King Nut, Isis and Nephthys Tendance of the Body and Mummification Sacrifices Life after Death Purification Rites Opening of the Mouth A Carrying Rite A Dramatic Scene Other Aspects of the Early Funerary Ritual III. AN UPPER EGYPTIAN GOD OF THE ROYAL DEAD Iconography The Name The Name and Solar Functions The Memphite Theology and the Dramatic Ramesseum Papyrus Private Funerary Inscriptions The Epagomenal Days The Ennead of Heliopolis Cult Topography 'Andjety The Eastern Delta and Anthropomorphism The Libyan God Ash A Jackal-God in Abydos The Anthropomorphic Source Antitheses and Hostilities IV. THE ASSOCIATION WITH WATER AND VEGETATION Libation and Inundation Links with Orion and the Year Fertility and the Nile Osiris and Corn Other Gods and Fertility V. THE RULER AND JUDGE OF THE DEAD A Dreaded Deity A Judicial Function A Trial Scene in Heliopolis Judgement after Death A Moral Defence and 'The Great God' VI. THE CULT AND THE SOCIETY Patriarchy in a Nomadic Community Brother-Sister Marriage The Theory of the King's Compulsory Death The Background of Sethian Symbolism in Sacrifice VII. AN EMBRYONIC SYSTEM OF SALVATION Osiris as the Central Figure Identification with Osiris A Pluralist Concept of Personality Partial Identifications and Syncretism The Imitative Element in Ritual The Collective Approach Deliverance after Death Addenda Bibliography Index of Texts Cited General Index Linguistic Indices Rev. and enl. ed. The origins of Osiris. 1966. (Munchner agyptologische Studien; 9) By J. Gwyn Griffiths. Includes Indexes. Bibliography: P. [243]-263.