Fertility scenes, Negev Desert Rock Art

The rock art found in the Negev Desert portrays fertility ritual inspired by the Egyptian myth of Isis reviving Osiris. Egyptian texts identify Osiris with the constellation Orion, as stated in the Pyramid Texts (circa 2400-2300 BCE): "O King, you are this great star, the companion of Orion, who traverses the sky with Orion" (Allen, 2005). Sirius in Canis Major was linked to the goddess Sopdet, later syncretized with Isis (Parker, 1950). These celestial constellations—Orion and Canis Major—are represented by the ibex and dog, depicting symbolic sexual rites meant to stimulate nature's regenerative forces.

The Egyptian Osiris Myth

The Egyptian myth recounts the story of Osiris, who was killed by his brother Set who desired the throne. Set dismembered Osiris into fourteen pieces and tossed them into the Nile River. Isis, Osiris's wife, searched the world and pieced together Osiris' body, and impregnated herself with his semen, giving birth to Horus. The Egyptian Pyramid Texts state: 'Your sister Isis comes to you [Osiris] rejoicing for love of you. You have placed her on your phallus and your seed issues into her'

Upon his resurrection Osiris became a symbol of rebirth and regeneration. His death symbolized the annual drought in Egypt and his rebirth coincided with the flooding of the Nile River, signifying the agricultural miracle of the country. To guarantee fertility, Pharaohs performed a masturbatory ceremony at the riverbank, spreading his semen throughout the Nile River's waters to fertilize the river banks to ensure abundance.

Osiris and Isis are Celestial gods

This celestial association is mirrored in Negev Desert rock art, which features an ibex followed by a dog. The ibex symbolizes Orion (Osiris), and the dog represents Canis Major (Isis). Their appearance in the heavens acted as a cosmic calendar, guiding agricultural and spiritual practices.

The sniffing dog scene in Negev Rock Art

Fig.2 illustrates a fertility ritual that reenacts the Egyptian myth of Isis reviving Osiris. It depicts sexual imagery symbolizing the fertility of the land along with the appearance of the Orion and Canis Major constellations (Osiris and Isis) during the fertile season.

In this portrayal, the dog symbolizes Isis reviving Osiris by sniffing the ibex. The radiant ibex horns visually intensify the scene, shown with radiating lines that suggest luminosity and intensity of this action, and at this moment, the ibex releases a spray of semen. The ibex's phallus and the wet patch underneath represent this moment. Above the figures, clusters of dots and patch marks suggest clouds and rain, connecting this sacred act with the seasonal onset of winter—when rain brings renewal to the desert and awakens the land's fertility.

Conclusion

The rock art from the Negev Desert offers a unique perspective into the beliefs and rituals of ancient Egyptians regarding fertility. The depiction of Osiris and Isis, symbolizing rebirth and regeneration, is associated with the presence of the Orion and Canis Major constellations during the fertile season. The arrival of these constellations signifies the onset of the rainy winter season, which revived all in the arid Negev desert.

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Yehuda Rotblum