The Great Hymn To Osiris - Stele of Amenmose - with Hieroglyphic Text
The Stele of Amenmose (C 286), housed in the Louvre Museum, bears one of ancient Egypt’s most significant religious texts: the Great Hymn to Osiris. This hymn is attributed to Amenmose, a scribe or a priest in the king's palace. Dating to the Eighteenth Dynasty of the New Kingdom, this inscription offers a comprehensive and eloquent account of the Osiris myth, providing crucial insight into the complex religious beliefs and funerary practices of the ancient Egyptians.
At the heart of the hymn lies the compelling story of Osiris, a narrative that resonated deeply with the ancient Egyptians. It recounts his tragic murder by his brother Set, a malevolent force symbolizing chaos and disorder. The hymn then describes the heroic efforts of his devoted wife, Isis, who painstakingly retrieved and reassembled his dismembered body. This act of divine devotion led to Osiris’s resurrection, establishing him as the ruler of the underworld, a realm of eternal existence.
The English text is translated by Professor John L. Foster, accompanied by the original hieroglyphic text.