Mighty One. Osiris played an important role in Egyptian mythology as the god of the underworld and judge of the dead. As a chthonic deity, he also became associated with the fertility of the earth. Osiris first appears in Egyptian texts at the end of Dynasty 5 (circa 2500-2350 B.C.E.), when he is mentioned in both inscriptions in private mastabas (boxlike tombs) and in the Pyramid Texts found in Unas's pyramid. His name was written with the hieroglyph of an eye surmounting a throne, and this combination has given rise to much speculation as to the origin and meaning of the name Osiris. At this point, there is no agreement about the significance of the name or its spelling. The simplest etymology would connect his name to the word wsr, meaning "mighty," making Osiris the "mighty one."

Fertility and the Underworld. Apparently, Osiris...