Editing Osiris (section)

===Ikhernofret Stela===
{{Ancient Egyptian religion}}
Much of the extant information about the rites of Osiris can be found on the [[Ikhernofret Stela]] at [[Abydos, Egypt|Abydos]] erected in the [[Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt|Twelfth Dynasty]] by [[Ikhernofret]], possibly a priest of Osiris or other official (the titles of Ikhernofret are described in his stela from Abydos) during the reign of [[Senwosret III]] (Pharaoh Sesostris, about 1875 BC). The ritual reenactment of Osiris's funeral rites were held in the last month of the inundation (the annual Nile flood), coinciding with Spring, and held at Abydos which was the traditional place where the body of Osiris drifted ashore after having been drowned in the Nile.<ref name="passion play">{{cite web |url=http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Article/743017 |website=ancientworlds.net |title=The passion plays of osiris |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626111529/http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Article/743017 |archive-date=2007-06-26 }}</ref>

The part of the myth recounting the chopping up of the body into 14 pieces by Set is not recounted in this particular stela. Although it is attested to be a part of the rituals by a version of the Papyrus Jumilhac, in which it took Isis 12 days to reassemble the pieces, coinciding with the festival of ploughing.<ref>J. Vandier, "Le Papyrus Jumilhac", pp.&nbsp;136–137, Paris, 1961</ref> Some elements of the ceremony were held in the [[Egyptian temple|temple]], while others involved public participation in a form of theatre. The Stela of Ikhernofret recounts the programme of events of the public elements over the five days of the Festival:
* ''The First Day, The Procession of [[Wepwawet]]'': A mock battle was enacted during which the enemies of Osiris are defeated. A procession was led by the god Wepwawet ("opener of the way").
* ''The Second Day, The Great Procession of Osiris'': The body of Osiris was taken from his temple to his tomb. The boat he was transported in, the "[[Neshmet]]" bark, had to be defended against his enemies.
* ''The Third Day:'' Osiris is mourned and the enemies of the land are destroyed.
* ''The Fourth Day, Night Vigil'': Prayers and recitations are made and funeral rites performed.
* ''The Fifth Day, Osiris is Reborn'': Osiris is reborn at dawn and crowned with the crown of [[Ma'at]]. The statue of Osiris is brought back to the temple.<ref name="passion play"/>
[[File:Terre cuite pleureuse Louvre E27247.jpg|thumb|left|A rare sample of Egyptian terra cotta sculpture which may depict [[Isis]] mourning Osiris. The sculpture portrays a woman raising her right arm over her head, a typical gesture of mourning. [[Musée du Louvre]], Paris.|upright]]