OSI'MO (the ancient Auximum), a t. in the province of Ancona, Italy; 8 m. from, Ancona on the road to Loretto; pop. about 7,000. It has a cathedral, an episcopal palace, a museum containing many statues and ancient inscriptions found near by, and_ several churches containing noteworthy paintings. Auximum was made a Roman colony in B.C. 157, and in the wars of Pompey and CTsar was occupied by both parties at different times.
OSI'ItIS, according to others, Asiris, or Hysiris ("Many-eyed "), a celebrated Egyptian deity, whose worship was universal throughout Egypt. This name appears in the hiero glyphic texts as early as the 4th dynasty, and is expressed by a throne and eye; at a later period, that of the 19th, a palanquin is substituted for a throne; and under the Romans, the pupil of the eye for the eye itself. Osiris does not indeed appear to luxe been universally honored till the time of the 11th and 12th dynasties, or about 1800 B.C., when Abydos, which was reputed to be his burial-place, rose into importance. In the monuments of this age he is called great god, eternal ruler, dwelling in the west, and lord of Abut or Abydos. Even at the most remote period, individuals after death were supposed to become an Osiris; and all the prayers and ceremonies performed or addressed to them were in this character, referring to their future life and resurrection. At the time of the 18th dynasty, this title of Osiris was prefixed to their names, and continued. to be so till the time of the Romans and fall of paganism.
In the Ritual, and other inscriptions, Osiris is said to be the son of Seb or Saturn, and born of Nu or Rhea; to be the Horus by Isis, of Anubis, and of the four•, genii of the dead. Many mystic notions were connected with Osiris; he was sometimes. thought to be the son of Ra, the sun, or of Atum, the setting sun, and the Bennu or Phenix; also to be uncreate, or self-engendered, and he is identified in some instances. with the Sun or the creator, and the Pluto or judge of Hades. Osiris was born on the first of the Epagomence, or five additional days of the year. When born, Chronos or Saturn is said to have given him in charge to Pamyles; having become king of Egypt, he is stated to have civilized the Egyptians, and especially to have taught them agricul ture, the culture of the vine, and the art of making beer; he afterwards traveled over the • earth, and conquered the people everywhere by his persuasion. During his absence, his. kingdom was confided to Isis, who guarded it strictly, and Set or Typhon, the brother of Osiris (who was born on the third of the Epagomenw), was unable to revolt against him. Typhon had, however, persuaded 72 other persons, and Aso, the queen of Ethiopia, to join him in a conspiracy; and having taken the measure of Osiris, he had a chest made of the same dimensions, richly ornamented and carved, and produced it at a banquet, ' where he promised to give it to whomsoever it should fit; and when all had lain down and tried it, and it suited none, Osiris at last laid himself down in it, and was imme diately covered over by the conspirators, who placed the lid upon it, and fastened it with nails and molten lead. The chest was then hurled into the Nile, and floated down the
Tanaitic mouth into the sea. This happened on the 17th of the month Athyr, in the • 28th year of the reign qr age of Osiris. Khem or Pan, attendant deities, dis covered the loss of the god; Isis immediately cut off a lock of hair and went into mourning, and proceeded in search of Anubis, the child of her sister Nephthys by Osiris, and having found him, brought him up. The chest having floated to Byblos, had lodged in a tamarisk, and became inclosed in the tree, which was cut down by the king, and the trunk, containing the chest and the body of the god, converted into a pillar to. support the roof of the palace. The goddess proceeded to Byblos, and ingratiated her self with the queen's women by plaiting their hair and imparting to it an ambrosial smell, so that the monarch, whose name was Melcarthus, and his wife, Saosis or Nemo. noun, invited her to court to take care of the royal child. She endeavored to confer immortality upon him by placing him on a fire, and changing herself into a swallow, flew round the pillar and bemoaned her fate. The queen became alarmed at the of her child; Isis revealed herself and asked for the pillar of tamarisk wood, which was given her. She then cut it open, and took out the chest, making great lamentations. and subsequently sailed for Egypt, with the eldest of the king's sons. The goddess, intend ing to visit Horus her son at Buto, deposited the chest in an unfrequented spot; but. Typhon discovered it by the light of the moon, tore it into 14 pieces, and distributed each to a nome or district. Isis recovered all by passing the marshes in a boat of papyrus; all except the phallus, which bad been eaten by the lepidotus, the phagrus, and oxyrhyn chus fish. Subsequently, a battle took place between Horns and Typhon or Set, which.. lasted three days, and ended by Typhon having fetters placed upon him. Isis, however, liberated Typhon, which so enraged Horus that he tore off her diadem, but Teti or Thoth placed on her the head of a cow instead. Typhon finally accused Horus of illegitimacy; but the question was decided between them by Teti or Thoth and the gods. From Osiris, after his death, and Isis sprung Harpocrates. See HARPOCRATES. Osiris seems to have been finally revived, and to have become the judge of the Karneter or Hades, presiding at the final judgment of souls in the Hall of the two Truths, with the 42 demons who presided over the capital sins, and awarding to the soul its final destiny. Thoth or Hermes recorded the judgment. and justified the deceased against his accusers, as he had formerly done for Osiris.