In the two following texts, authors used the cosmos to symbolize a deity’s greatness. As the name indicates, in the Hymn to Osiris, the god is Osiris. In the coffin text spell, the focal point is Annunciation, “The creative expression of a thought through the medium of the spoken word,” which is one of the two elements of magic.
The Great Hymn to Osiris. Scholars often cite the Osiris myth from Egyptian literature. The hymn from which this passage comes “contains the fullest account of the Osiris myth extant in Egyptian . . . sources.” In this text, the topos established the might of Osiris:
Plants sprout by his wish, Earth grows its food for him, sky and its stars obey him, the great portals open for him. Lord of acclaim in the southern …show more content…
A key reference in the Osiris text concerns the first mention of the sky and stars, as they obey him much like the celestial bodies obey God within the Hebrew writings; So, why obedience? For the Egyptian author, it exists only as a comparison. In the Jewish works, however, cosmic obedience symbolizes not the greatness of God, but His wisdom (1 and 2 Enoch) and the proper order of the universe, an order broken by humanity (Jubilees) and evidence of God’s place of judgment. The similarities hint at similar attitudes towards cosmic authority between cultures, but not enough to form a parent-child relationship.
Greek
The two Greek texts are not traditional narratives, but a play and didactic treatise. In the play, the chorus speaks of different events to the audience, then presents a choice of Generals “hateful to the gods.” After that comes the cosmic reference. Plato’s Epinomis is a typical exposition by the main character (The Athenian) who carries the ideas of Plato, followed by a short statement from a secondary character. In the quoted passage, the Athenian speaks of what or whom he believes to be God, and does so in the context of identifying science and instilling wisdom.
In the play, the chorus had recounted several events. In line 575, the chorus progresses to the choice of
The Great Hymn to Osiris. Scholars often cite the Osiris myth from Egyptian literature. The hymn from which this passage comes “contains the fullest account of the Osiris myth extant in Egyptian . . . sources.” In this text, the topos established the might of Osiris:
Plants sprout by his wish, Earth grows its food for him, sky and its stars obey him, the great portals open for him. Lord of acclaim in the southern …show more content…
A key reference in the Osiris text concerns the first mention of the sky and stars, as they obey him much like the celestial bodies obey God within the Hebrew writings; So, why obedience? For the Egyptian author, it exists only as a comparison. In the Jewish works, however, cosmic obedience symbolizes not the greatness of God, but His wisdom (1 and 2 Enoch) and the proper order of the universe, an order broken by humanity (Jubilees) and evidence of God’s place of judgment. The similarities hint at similar attitudes towards cosmic authority between cultures, but not enough to form a parent-child relationship.
Greek
The two Greek texts are not traditional narratives, but a play and didactic treatise. In the play, the chorus speaks of different events to the audience, then presents a choice of Generals “hateful to the gods.” After that comes the cosmic reference. Plato’s Epinomis is a typical exposition by the main character (The Athenian) who carries the ideas of Plato, followed by a short statement from a secondary character. In the quoted passage, the Athenian speaks of what or whom he believes to be God, and does so in the context of identifying science and instilling wisdom.
In the play, the chorus had recounted several events. In line 575, the chorus progresses to the choice of