04/11/2024
´Isis´ is the Grecized version of the original Egyptian name ´Aset´.
Here are some arguments for the isomorphism of Mary and Isis.
The cult of Mary first deleloped intensily in the Coptic community in Egypt, i.e. in the immediate sphere of the Egyptian Isis cult. The above mentioned influential Marian worshipper Cyril, who as Patriarch of Alexandria is said to have taken extremely brutal action against the Isis cult (with whom, however, he made use of some characteristics of Isis by transferring them to Mary, e.g. the title ´God Bearer´ = theotocos), can be attributed to the Coptic Church. The earliest prayer to the ´God Bearer´, written around 300 CE, is Coptic and reads (my translation of a German translation):
Under the protection of your multiple mercy we flee, Mother of God. Do not despise our petitions when we are in need, but deliver us from all dangers, you alone are blessed.
The first depictions of milk-giving Mary and Child (clearly based on Isis-Horus depictions) were of Coptic origin. The ´Ave Maria´ was probably created in Egypt, too.
The temple of Philae was consecrated to Mary in the 6th century. In Italy, temples of Isis, Juno, Minerva and Diana were also converted into churches of Mary. One of them is even called "Santa Maria sopra Minerva" 😊 above (the temple) of Minerva). The Cypriot temple of Aphrodite was converted into a Church of Mary, too, where Mary is still today (!) venerated under the name of Aphrodite, "Panhagia Aphroditessa". The celebration of the birth of Jesus takes place on the feast of Horus, son of Isis (winter solstice). Statues of Isis and Horus were reinterpreted as figures of Mary and Jesus. The Isis-Epitheta "Queen of Heaven", "Sweet Mother", "Mother of Sorrows", "Mother of God" and "God Bearer" passed to Mary, the latter two by decision of the Council of Ephesus in the year 431.
The aspect of royal motherhood is also common ground between Isis and Mary.
´Isis´ (actually ´Aset´) means ´throne´. In early depictions she wears a throne over her head. As the mother of Horus, with whom every pharaoh identified himself, she was automatically also the king's mother. Against this background, the sitting of the pharaoh on the throne was to be understood as sitting on the lap of his divine mother.
Source: Historum
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