Isis was a great enchantress, the goddess of magic, worshipped throughout the Greco-Roman world, venerated as inventor of agriculture, law and medicine, the Mother who placed the Sun God Ra in the sky.
Isis was also a goddess of healing and magic. She lived with her brother/husband Osiris until he was killed by his brother Set. Isis, with the help of her sister Nephthys, found a part of his body in Phoenicia in a tamarisk tree, and returned it along with the other parts to Egypt for a proper burial. After Set's second attempt to dispose of the body, Isis brought Osiris back to life and later conceived a child with him, Horus. In the Osiris legend she is seen as a dutiful wife, a grieving widow and as a protector of the dead. Together with Thoth, she taught mankind the secrets of medicine. She is often rendered on the foot of coffins with long wings spread to protect the deceased.
Her festivals are celebrated January 9, February 5, March 5, March 20, May 14, June 24, July 3, July 19, August 12, August 27, and October 28 - November 3, November 13 - 14, and December 22.
Two great Festivals are dedicated to Isis. The first was celebrated on the Vernal Equinox, to celebrate the return of life to the world. She was worshipped as the ideal mother, wife, the matron of nature and magic. She was the friend of slaves, sinners, artisans, the downtrodden, who also listened to the prayers of the wealthy, maidens, aristocrats and rulers. Isis worship was concerned about the acquisition of knowledge since knowledge could only be attained from the gifts of the gods.
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