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The first son of Nut and Geb, Osiris was born in Thebes in Upper Egypt. At his birth a loud, mysterious voice proclaimed the coming of the "Universal Lord," which gave rise to shouts of gladness, which was soon followed by tears and lamentations when it was learned what misfortunes awaited him. Ra rejoiced at the news of his birth and had Osiris brought into his presence where he recognized his great-grandson as heir to this throne.

Osiris was handsome, dark-skinned and taller than other men. When Get, his father, retired to the heavens, Osiris succeeded him as king of Egypt and took Isis, his sister as queen. The first care of the new sovereign was to abolish cannibalism and to teach his still half-savage subjects the art of fashioning agricultural implements. He taught them how to produce grain and grapes for man’s nourishment in the form of bread, wine and beer. The cult of gods did not yet exist. Osiris instituted it. He built the first temples and sculptured the first divine images. He laid down the rules governing religious practice and even invented the two kinds of flute which should accompany ceremonial song.

After this he built towns and gave his people just laws, thus meriting the name Onnophris, "the Good one," by which, as the fourth divine Pharaoh, he was known.

Not satisfied with having civilized Egypt, he wished to spread the benefits of his rule throughout the whole world. He left the regency to Isis and set forth on the conquest of Asia, accompanied by Thoth, Anubis and Upuaut. Osiris was the enemy of all violence and it was by gentleness alone that he subjected country after country, winning and disarming their inhabitants by songs and the playing of musical instruments.

Not long after his return to his kingdom he became the victim of a plot organized by his brother Set, who was jealous of his power. Set had a wonderful ornamented chest made just the size of Osiris’ body. This he brought to a banquet attended by the gods and goddesses. All admired the beautiful chest which Set promised to the one whose body fitted it most perfectly. One after another lay down in the chest, until at last Osiris also tried. The moment he was in the box Set and his accomplices nailed the cover down and sealed it with molten lead. Then they cast it into the Nile where it floated out to sea. His faithful wife, with the aid of Thoth, Anubis, and Horus rescued Osiris and succeeded in briefly restoring his body to life (see story of Isis).

Resurrected and from thenceforward secure from the threat of death, Osiris could have regained this throne and continued to reign over the living. But he preferred to depart from this earth and retire to the "Elysian Fields" where he warmly welcomed souls of the just and reigned over the dead. It was as god of the dead that Osiris enjoyed his greatest popularity for he gave his devotees the hope of an eternally happy life in another world ruled over by a just and good king.

Osiris is represented as a man tightly swathed in white mummy wrappings. His face is surmounted by the high white mitre flanked by two ostrich features which are called "Atef," the crown of Upper Egypt. Around his neck he wears a kind of cravat. His two hands, freed from the winding sheet, are folded across his breast and hold the whip and the sceptre in the form of a crook, emblems of supreme power.