A Story for Children

Once upon a time in Stygia there lived a good and pure king named Osiris who had been a god.

Osiris married the goddess Isis. For many years they ruled over Stygia. They developed land filled with fruits and vegetables. They built marvellous temples and statues. Osiris invented the flute, and Isis taught the women how to grind corn and weave cloth.

But Osiris wished to help people everywhere. So with Isis' blessings, he set off to the Southern isles.

Now Osiris' brother, Set, was his opposite in every way. As soon as Osiris left, Set began to plot against him.

Set visited Isis and pretended to admire his brother. "When Osiris returns," Set said, "I wish to throw a banquet."

"That would be kind," Isis said.

At last Osiris returned. As Set's servants were busy preparing sweet pies and thick stews, Set went to meet his brother.

Osiris was happy to be home and pleased by the feast. He ate and ate, telling of his adventures. At last, four servants entered the great hall. They carried a chest lined with silver and gold and studded with jewels. "Silence!" Set called to the crowd. "I would like to end this evening with a contest. This beautiful chest is the challenge and the prize. I will give it to whoever can fit inside."

Osiris laughed as he watched Set's friends climb into the chest. Alas, they were all very long and tall. At last he stood and said, "I shall try," and because he was so trim, he easily fit inside.

At that moment Set's comrades slammed down the lid. They wrapped the chest in ropes then nailed it shut. Four servants carried it to the Parax River. "One, two, three," Set cried, and the servants hurled the chest into the river. The current carried the chest out to sea, until it washed up on the Vilayet coast. It came to rest beneath a tamarisk tree. And the moment this happened, the tree reached out with its branches and swallowed the chest.

Many years passed. Isis ruled Stygia, but she grieved. Her advisers were not wise or good. Many people became slaves, and cruelty and sadness were everywhere.

One day on the Vilayet coast a warrior cut down the tamarisk tree. The moment the tree fell to earth, a delicious aroma filled the air. News of the wonderful smell spread.

When Isis heard of it, she knew the tree contained the body of Osiris. She told her servants to take her there.

When they arrived, Isis had her servants open the trunk of the tree. When they did, she saw the jeweled trunk. "Carry the chest to our ship," she told the servants. Back in Stygia, she hid the chest on a floating island in the Parax.

One day Set, having heard of Isis' journey, visited the island. He drew his scimitar and opened the chest. When he saw his brother's body, he cut it into 14 pieces, and these he scattered across the island.

But Set did not know that Isis had seen him. When he was gone, she searched for the pieces of her husband's body. Alas, she found only 13. Isis called upon her magical powers to join the 13 pieces. When her husband's body was nearly whole, she wrapped him in fine linens. And when she was finished, Osiris woke. He embraced his wife. "I love you," he said, "but I am no longer whole. I shall travel to the underworld, and our son Horus will rule." Isis kissed her husband as he closed his eyes for the last time, and she declared her son Horus king of Stygia. Osiris ruled over the dead as kindly as they had ruled over the living, surrounded by the sweet scent of love and goodness.