Reading Notes: Ancient Egypt, Part A

In the story "The Death of Osiris," Osiris's brother, Set, creates an ornate chest that match Osiris's exact dimensions. During a large feast, Set tells everyone that whoever's dimensions are a perfect match for the chest will be gifted the chest. All the guests tried fitting in the chest, but none fit. Finally, Osiris tries laying in it and fits perfectly. Before he can get out, however, the "evil followers" of Set nail Osiris into the chest, killing him. The party quickly becomes filled with sorrow rather than joy, and Osiris and his coffin are put in the Nile, which they float down until they set sail in the ocean.

I think it would be interesting to tell a similar story to this one, in which people thought someone was doing a good deed for society, but it is secretly a sinister act. I could use the same basic premise by having someone create an object that is unknowably created for one specific person, people trying to win this object, and having the object ultimately lead to the person it was made for's demise.

The chest is a conflicting object, because it is so beautiful but causes so much destruction. During the celebration, all the party-goers stop by to admire the chest and its decorations. Even after it becomes Osiris's coffin, it is described as "richly decorated."

Detail of a frieze on a wall of tomb QV66, the burial place of Nefertari (c. 1295-1255 B.C.), royal wife of Ramesses the Great, featuring the Egyptian god Osiris. Source: Wikipedia

Story source: Egyptian Myth and Legend by Donald Mackenzie (1907)

Comments

Introduction to Shea "Campus Involvement" Penning

Hello! My name is Shea Penning and I'm excited to meet you! I am a junior majoring in Advertising and minoring in Italian. I was born in Texas, have lived in Nevada and California, and was raised in Edmond, Oklahoma. I don't know exactly what I want to do once I graduate, but right now I think I'd like to continue my education at a portfolio school and study graphic design. One of my favorite parts of college has been getting involved on campus! I got involved in Soonerthon Exec my freshman year in the Ambassador (aka fundraising) committee. I joined the same committee the next year as a team captain. If you are unfamiliar with Soonerthon, it is OU's official philanthropy for the Oklahoma City Children's Hospital Foundation and ends with a huge dance marathon in March. Last year, we raised over $1 million FTK (For the Kids)! Picture of me at Soonerthon 2018. Personal image. Soonerthon falls under Campus Activities Council, which is the programming branch ...

Comment Wall

Visit my Storybook to read my stories and then leave comments here! Constellation from Max Pixel

Week 7 Story: Wolf, Pig, and Owl

Pig lived in a brick house and baked a pie every day. One day, Wolf walked by and smelled the wonderful scent of a pie wafting down the road. Wolf stopped by Pig's house and peered into the kitchen window. He said to Pig, "Give me that pie." Pig replied, "No, I will not give you this pie. I am excited to eat it and do not have time to make another." Wolf said, "If you don't give me the pie, I will huff and puff and blow your house down." Pig had seen Wolf blow down the houses of the other two pigs and was afraid of Wolf blowing his house down. Pig handed Wolf the pie through the window. The next day, Wolf stopped by Pig's house again and demanded Pig give him the pie he was making that day. Day after day, Wolf stopped by Pig's kitchen window and took the pie Pig baked that day. Owl was flying by Pig's window and could hearing sobbing coming from the kitchen. He stopped by and asked Pig why he cried. Pig sobbed, ...

Shea's Myth-Folk Blog

Search This Blog