Fertility scenes, Negev Desert Rock Art
The rock art found in the Negev Desert portrays a profound fertility ritual inspired by the Egyptian myth of Isis reviving Osiris. These figures, derived from celestial constellations—namely Orion and Canis Major—are represented by the ibex and the dog. The artwork captures a symbolic sexual rite intended to stimulate nature’s reproductive processes, echoing ancient beliefs in the cosmic cycle of death and rebirth.
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.
Fig.1 Osiris and Isis symbols are derived from the constellations of Orion and Canis Major.
The three-star above the boat identifies the Orion constellation. In the middle scene, the corresponding constellation map
of Orion and Canis Major is shown. The rock art, on the right, shows the ibex and the dog, symbolically representing
the Orion and Canis Major constellations.
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.
Fig.2: The "sniffing dog"
fertility scene from Negev rock art. The ibex and dog mirror the constellations
Orion and Canis Major, representing Osiris and Isis during the season of regeneration.
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.
Bibliography
Ardakani ( 2016) An Evaluation of the Historical Importance of Fertility and Its Reflection in Ancient Mythology
BOTICA (2013) Weather, Agriculture, and religion in the Ancient Near East and in the Old Testament
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