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Image Via The Kites Of Nephthys By The Curious Egyptologist: Nephthys And Isis Stand Vigil In Kite Form

Image via The Kites of Nephthys by The Curious Egyptologist: Nephthys and Isis stand vigil in kite form Tomb of Nefertari Valley of the Queens Wilkinson, R., 2007. The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt. London, Thames & Hudson, Page 159

The Oxyrhynchus papyrus calls Isis the Kite Goddess. When Isis and Nephthys are shown mourning for Osiris they are often referred to as kites (or screechers) and depicted as such. The kite has a shrill piercing cry and to the Egyptians this suggested the wailing of women in mourning.  “The screecher comes, the kite comes, namely Isis and Nephthys.” The kite is a scavenger and will have wandered the countryside and towns looking for carrion which will have suggested the wanderings of Isis as she searched for the body of Osiris. A 4th century BCE papyrus refers to “stanzas of the Festival of the Two Kites”. Two species of hawk have been suggested from the depictions of Isis as a kite. One is the Black Kite (Milvus migrans) while the other is the Chanting Goshawk (Melierax musicus) based on the plumage and the shape. Chanting Goshawks are often seen in pairs, thus alluding to Isis and Nephthys. As their name suggests they have a melodic piping song which may have been similar to the sound of temple singers. - Isis - the Eternal Goddess of Egypt and Rome by Lesley Jackson


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