|
|
| Isis as Maat, painting by Sue Barrowclough |
An Excerpt from Book V of the Moralia written by Plutarch, First Essay, titled “Isis
and Osiris”
Addressed to Clea, a priestess at Delphi
2. Therefore the effort to arrive at the Truth, and especially the truth about the gods, is a longing for the divine. For
the search for truth requires for its study and investigation the consideration of sacred subjects, and it is a work more
hallowed than any form of holy living or temple service; and not least of all, it is well-pleasing to that goddess whom you
worship, a goddess exceptionally wise and a lover of wisdom, to whom, as her name at least seems to indicate, knowledge and
understanding are in the highest degree appropriate … The name of her shrine also clearly promises knowledge and comprehension
of reality; for it is named Iseion, to indicate that we shall comprehend reality if in a reasonable and devout frame of mind
we pass within the portals of her shrines.
3. Moreover, many writers have held her to be the daughter of Hermes, and many others the daughter of Prometheus, because
of the belief that Prometheus is the discoverer of wisdom and forethought, and Hermes the inventor of grammar and music. For
this reason they call the first of the Muses at Hermopolis Isis as well as Justice; for she is wise, as I have said, and discloses
the divine mysteries to those who truly and justly have the name of “bearers of the sacred vessels” and “wearers
of the sacred robes.” These are they who within their own soul, as though within a casket, bear the sacred writings
about the gods clear of all superstition and pedantry; and they cloak them with secrecy, thus giving intimations, some dark
and shadowy, some clear and bright, of their concepts about the gods, intimations of the same sort as are clearly evidenced
in the wearing of the sacred garb. For this reason, too, the fact that the deceased votaries of Isis are decked with these
garments is a sign that these sacred writings accompany them, and that they pass to the other world possessed of these and
of naught else. It is a fact, Clea, that having a beard and wearing a coarse cloak does not make philosophers, nor does dressing
in linen and shaving the hair make votaries of Isis; but the true votary of Isis is he who, when he has legitimately received
what is set forth in the ceremonies connected with these gods, uses reason in investigating and in studying the truth contained
therein.
Moralia, Book V, “Isis and Osiris”, (De Iside Et Osiride), Plutarch, translated by F. C. Babbitt,
Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass., and London, UK, first published 1936, reprinted 1993
Painting of Isis as Maat by Sue Barrowclough, courtesy of publisher, used by permission.
|
|

May Isis richly bless all who visit this site. This
central Fellowship of Isis website is officially authorized and chartered by Fellowship of Isis co-founder Rt. Rev.
Olivia Robertson, AU, FOI Foundation Centre, Clonegal Castle, Enniscorthy, Ireland Copyright © 2004-2009
The Circle of Isis Notice of Copyright and Disclaimer of the Circle of Isis Website
Contents: The Circle of Isis website is an officially sanctioned central global website
of the Fellowship of Isis, authorized by Rt. Rev. Olivia Robertson, AU, co-founder of the Fellowship of Isis, Foundation
Centre, Clonegal Castle, Enniscorthy, Ireland. The contents of the Circle of Isis Website are not public domain.
All contents published under the name The Circle of Isis on this website are copyrighted. The URL (www.thecircleofisis.com)
is copyrighted. Direct links to these webpages are permitted. Copying the appearance, content or
format of these pages is not permitted. All rights reserved.
Notice
of Copyright of the Fellowship of Isis Liturgy: Fellowship of Isis Liturgy copyright is legally shared by the
author, Rt. Rev. Olivia Robertson, AU, FOI co-founder, with members of the Circle of Isis Advisory Board. Those
members are Rt. Rev. Loreon Vigne, Rt. Rev. deTraci Regula, ArchDrs. Linda Iles and Rt. Rev. Caroline Wise. The content and
format of the Fellowship of Isis Liturgy presented on the Circle of Isis website are not public domain. The content and
format are protected by a separate copyright. Rt. Rev. Olivia Robertson, AU, FOI co-founder, personally upholds
our copyright. Private or public distribution, private or public reproduction, private or public publication
in any form, by any means, of the FOI Liturgy as presented on the Circle of Isis website, is not permitted. Direct links
to the FOI Liturgy pages on the Circle of Isis website are allowed, printing a copy for private ritual use is allowed.
All other rights reserved. "Circle of Isis" line drawing by Rt.
Rev. Olivia Robertson. Used by permission of the artist. All rights reserved.
|
|