Knot Of Isis

Isis is the Egyptian goddess celebrated mostly as the ideal wife and mother figure; she is friend to whomever prays to her, the sinners, slaves, or the wealthy. Isis is also the patron of nature and magic; in Egyptian mythology, when Isis search the world for her husband and brother Osiris, the people were so moved by her loyalty that they granted Isis magical powers. In other mythology, it was only after she had already resurrected Osiris that the Egyptian people granted Isis their magic. The ancient Egyptians believed that the Nile flooded every year because of Isis’ tears for her beloved Osiris. The Tyet, or “knot of Isis” is a symbol of the goddess Isis, and bears resemblance to the ankh. Both the ankh and the knot of Isis were believed to be used as ceremonial ties in Egyptian religious rituals. In hieroglyphic imagery, the know of Isis basically looks almost exactly like an ankh, except its arms are limp and lay at its sides, and the base is more defined as being two ends. The knot resembles the shape of a man, or tied strings.

The knot of Isis, also like the ankh, has no certain background; although many Egyptologists have speculated and theorised on the subject, there’s no one widely accepted origin for the Knot. Some scientists and researchers have speculated that as an amulet, the knot of Isis is also the Blood of Isis, which is symbolic of the menstrual flow of the goddess. The Blood of Isis is a protective charm against evil when worn as an amulet, as recorded in one of the spells in The Book of the Dead:

“You possess your blood Isis, you possess your power, Isis, you possess your magic Isis. The amulet is a protection for this Great One, which will drive off anyone who would perform a criminal act against him.”

The amulet representing the Blood of Isis is a funerary pendant, made from red stone or glass, a symbol of the magical elements of the female womb and menstrual flow. The know of Isis is also significant of a knot that the Egyptian gods and goddesses are depicted wearing, to secure their robes and garments.