became the centre of the celebration of mysteries illustrating
the death and revival of Osiris. Fortunately, a certain high
official named I-kher-nofret has left us an account of the Osiris
passion-play as performed under his oversight in the nineteenth
year of Sesostris III, nearly two thousand years before Christ
[See Schafer's article, "Die Osiris-mysterien," in Sethe's
_Untersuchungen zur Geshichte Aegyptens_, IV, 2, pp 1-42.]. The
play began by the procession of the statue of the jackal-god
Wep-wawet (the road-opener) going forth to help his father
Osiris. Then the statue of Osiris himself in the Neshemet boat
came forth as triumphant king of the earth. Sham battles took
place referring to the conquest of the earth by Osiris. These
processions were only introductory. The principal procession took
place on the following day (or days), when Osiris went forth to
his death at Nedit. The actual death scene certainly took place
in secret. But when the dead body was found, the multitude joined
in the wailing and the lamentations. The god Thoth went forth in
a boat and brought back the body of Osiris. The body was prepared
for burial and taken in funeral procession to the grave at Peker.
Osiris was avenged on his enemies in a great battle on the water
at Nedit. Finally, the god, his life revived, comes from Peker in
triumphant procession and enters his temple at Abydos.

Osiris mysteries were celebrated at other places, at least in
later times and perhaps even in the Middle Empire; but it is not
easy to discern the part these mysteries played in the Middle
Empire in the beliefs of the common people regarding their
immortality. The Osiris story was one of the most widespread in
Egypt, and, powerful in its effect on the feelings of all
classes, was certain, sooner or later, to prepare the way for a