384 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XIII. 



state, where she formed the second member of a 

 triad composed of Osiris, herself, and Nephthys, 

 and assisted at the ordeal which took place before 

 the judgment-seat of her brother and husband. 

 Isis was also the second member of another triad, 

 particularly worshipped at Philge, consisting of 

 Osiris, Isis, and Horus. She was said to be the 

 *' protector (or defender) of her brother*," in which 

 capacity they represented her covering Osiris t 

 with her outspread wings. She was styled the 

 " royal consort and sister of Osiris,'* " Goddess 

 Mother," (the Muth, of Plutarch) ; and sometimes 

 Hekte, — on which account she may be thought 

 to answer to Hecate or Proserpine, as before ob- 

 served. She was occasionally figured with the head 

 of a cat, or with the attributes of Bubastis ; and 

 I have once found her represented with the throne 

 of Nephthys on her head, in the character of her 

 sister, t In addition to the globe and 

 horns of Athor, Isis has sometimes the 

 flowers of water plants rising from her 

 head, particularly when represented as 

 the mother of the infant Horus, and 

 the second member of the triad of 

 Phikc. She often wears a cap repre- 

 senting the sacred Vulture ; its head 



No. 455. A head-dress •,• c ^ c' l J'iUJ 



of Isis. p/«te. projectmg trom her rorenead, its body 

 covering her head, and its wings extending down- 

 wards at the side of her face to her shoulder ; 



* ride Plate 63. Part 1 . 



-|- Isis protects him in this manner, both in the character of Osiris 

 and of Pthah-Sokari-Osiris; which connects the two Deities Pthah 

 and Osiris. 



X Vide fig. 2. of Plate 34, 



