Osiris (/osars/; Ancient Greek: , also Usiris; the Egyptian language name is ariously transliterate!
Asar, Asari, Aser,Ausar, Ausir, Wesir, Usir, Usire or Ausare" is an Egyptian go!, usually i!enti#ie! as the go! o# the a#terli#e, the un!er$orl! an! the !ea!% &e $as classically !epicte! as a green' skinne! man $ith a pharaoh(s )ear!, partially mummy'$rappe! at the legs, $earing a !istincti e cro$n $ith t$o large ostrich #eathers at either si!e, an! hol!ing a sym)olic crook an! #lail% *siris $as at times consi!ere! the ol!est son o# the Earth go! Ge),+,- an! the sky go!!ess .ut, as $ell as )eing )rother an! hus)an! o# /sis, $ith &orus )eing consi!ere! his posthumously )egotten son%+,- &e $as also associate! $ith the epithet Khenti-Amentiu, $hich means "Foremost of the Westerners" 0 a re#erence to his kingship in the lan! o# the !ea!% +1- As ruler o# the !ea!, *siris $as also sometimes calle! 2king of the living2, since the Ancient Egyptians consi!ere! the )lesse! !ea! 2 the living ones2%+3*siris is #irst atteste! in the mi!!le o# the 4i#th !ynasty o# Egypt, although it is likely that he $as $orshippe! much earlier;+5- the termKhenti-Amentiu !ates to at least the #irst !ynasty, also as a pharaonic title% 6ost in#ormation a aila)le on the myths o# *siris is !eri e! #rom allusions containe! in the 7yrami! 8e9ts at the en! o# the 4i#th :ynasty, later .e$ ;ing!om source !ocuments such as the <ha)aka <tone an! the Contending of Horus and Seth, an! much later, in narrati e style #rom the $ritings o# Greek authors inclu!ing 7lutarch+=- an! :io!orus <iculus%+>*siris $as consi!ere! not only a merci#ul ?u!ge o# the !ea! in the a#terli#e, )ut also the un!er$orl! agency that grante! all li#e, inclu!ing sprouting egetation an! the #ertile #loo!ing o# the .ile @i er% &e $as !escri)e! as the "Lord of love2,+A- "He Who is Permanently Benign and Youthful 2+B- an! the "Lord of Silence"%+C- 8he ;ings o# Egypt $ere associate! $ith *siris in !eath 0 as *siris rose #rom the !ea! they $oul!, in union $ith him, inherit eternal li#e through a process o# imitati e magic% Dy the .e$ ;ing!om all people, not ?ust pharaohs, $ere )elie e! to )e associate! $ith *siris at !eath, i# they incurre! the costs o# the assimilation rituals%+,E8hrough the hope o# ne$ li#e a#ter !eath, *siris )egan to )e associate! $ith the cycles o)ser e! in nature, in particular egetation an! the annual #loo!ing o# the .ile, through his links $ith *rion an! <irius at the start o# the ne$ year%+B- *siris $as $i!ely $orshippe! as For! o# the :ea! until the suppression o# the Egyptian religion !uring the Ghristian era%+,,-+,1-
*siris is represente! in his most !e elope! #orm o# iconography $earing the Atef cro$n, $hich is similar to the Hhite cro$n o# Ipper Egypt, )ut $ith the a!!ition o# t$o curling ostrich #eathers at each si!e (see also Ate# cro$n (hieroglyph""% &e also carries the crook an! #lail% 8he crook is thought to represent *siris as a shepher! go!% 8he sym)olism o# the #lail is more uncertain $ith shepher!s $hip, #ly'$hisk, or association $ith the go! An!?ety o# the ninth nome o# Fo$er Egypt propose!%+B&e $as commonly !epicte! as a green (the color o# re)irth" or )lack (allu!ing to the #ertility o# the .ile #loo!plain" comple9ione!pharaoh, in mummi#orm ($earing the trappings o# mummi#ication #rom chest !o$n$ar!"%+,3- &e $as also !epicte! rarely as a lunar go! $ith a cro$n encompassing the moon%
