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OSIRIS Osiris was the teacher of humanity, appointed to rule the world by his father the Earth God Geb. It was he who gave men agriculture and, as an early fertility and vegetation god, he was regarded as the embodiment of the corn. But Set was jealous and tricked his brother into getting into an ornamental trunk, which he closed and threw into the river. After his body was mummified, Osiris descended into the Underworld where he became the embodiment of the deceased King just as his son Horus represented the living one. For this reason Osiris is portrayed wearing the crowns of Egypt and carrying the ceremonial crook and flail. He represents the annual growth of the corn, watered by the tears of Isis, the Nile Flood, and so ensures that the cycle of life, death and rebirth continues as the corn is cut down but sprouts again. In this, he complements the ordered passage of the sun god. Osiris was such an important god for it was believed he could claim a place in the heavens for all who followed him. It was believed that in the Underworld Ra nightly joined with Osiris and thus gained the power for rebirth. Osiris can be invoked for regeneration, whether the rekindling of hope and enthusiasm, in a relationship or starting over after loss, for fertility of all kinds, for male rituals of all kinds, for nobility of purpose and for reaping what you sow His colours are black and green.
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