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Osiris Gender Roles

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Osiris Gender Roles
Gender plays a paramount role in societies of the past and future as well as in the mythology of many cultures. The role and perception of men and women was very immutable and constant in the past. Ironically, over time the perception of gender roles changed or was very different in certain locations of a nation. In modern day, there is a looser grip on the gender roles in society. Ancient tribes wrote mythologies which were the seeds of their religion and culture, and this may have influenced their posterity. The seeds embedded in the ground were a framework that sprouted as scholars and philosophers unfolded, and added onto the remnants of past religious literacy. The way in which gender plays a role in mythology of cultures, specifically …show more content…
"... After Osiris' brutal murder … Isis recovers his corpse and, 'uses her magic powers to revive [him] for just long enough to conceive a son ... need for feminine intervention in the process of male regeneration, and the necessity of the reversal of gender roles in rebirth." ("Reversal of Gender in Ancient Egyptian Mythology: Discovering the Secrets of Androgyny") Isis takes on the role of the male creator in order to revive Osiris. She, then switches to her feminine self in order to give birth to their son, Horus. This concept of two genders embedded into one body is seen multiple times in Egyptian mythology. This reversal gives more power to women. It shows their strength in a way, because they have the ability to take on a different task. Isis is known as the "mother of god" and was worshipped a lot by the Egyptians. Her feminine traits where reflected by the women in ancient society. Isis was shown to support women in labour and assure fertility and healing. These traits show the duties of a woman in ancient society. Usually, their only purpose was to support the family by cleaning the house, cooking, producing children for the family, etc. Furthermore, cult of Isis predominated overtime and women were given more respect and privilege not only in Egypt but also in Europe. Isis possessed magical powers and this, too shed a more positive view towards women in

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