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Isis or her more ancient Egyptian name Aset, seems like two different deities if you take a closer look. When the worship of Isis rose in Greek and Roman days, Aset had already been all but forgotten for hundreds of years, at this time only a small group of priests still knew how to read the hieroglyphs of the temple walls. The Greek and Roman way of superimposing their cultural values on Egyptian culture affected the interpretation of the original Aset, depriving her of her Egyptian origin and turning her into Roman deity. The Egyptian Aset, is the much older Egyptian deity, whose name means "throne" or "seat", indicating the "seat of kings" which is also the same as the hieroglyph she is frequently seen wearing. This meant that she personified the Throne of Egypt who "made the kings". Thereby she was the King„s symbolical mother and as such of special significance to him, but in the early days she was not a great and common mother deity. She is first mentioned in Dynasty IV when she was known in legend as part of the Ennead of Heliopolis. There she was the sister, husband and mourner of Wesir, mother of Heru, and sister of Nebt-Het and Set, children of Geb and Nut of the Heliopolitan Ennead. Together with her sister Nebt-Het (Greek: Nephtys) Aset is frequently seen on coffins in the form of a kite with outstretched wings protecting the deceased. This is probably because the wail of the kite resembled the sound of weeping and mourning women. Aset is also seen in the Hall of Judgment standing protectively behind the throne of Wesir (Osiris). Aset is also the "Protector of Imsety", the son of Horus, who protects the liver of the deceased. Some of her other titles are: "the female Horus, the crown of Ra-Heru, Lady of the New Year, maker of the sunrise, Lady of heaven, the light-giver of heaven, queen of the earth, Lady of the solid earth".
At certain points in history the ancient Egyptian legends were 'edited' by the Priesthood and the kings in efforts to strengthen a certain Deity„s influence, and thereby themselves of course. The legend cycle of Isis, Osiris and Horus is known from the Old Kingdom, and it is hinted at in the Pyramid Texts, but it was heavily rewritten and added to by Plutharch (ca 46- ca 120). In legend Aset seems more fierce than a mother goddess, quite strongwilled and could quickly lash out against attackers if need be. She sometimes appears as the scorpion goddess Serket and as the star Sopdet, Aset brings on the inundation. The ancient Egyptians called her the 'Eye of Re', giving her an association with the sun. Aset was called the "Mistress of Magic", or "Great of Magic" as in legend she managed to trick Ra into telling her his secret name, thus getting access to his great knowledge and power. In the "Contendings of Horus and Set" she uses all her magic and trickery to help her son regain the throne of Wesir (Osiris) from Set. In the most well known legend about her it is told how she mourned and searched for her husband Wesir (Osiris) who had been murdered by his brother Set and how she succeeded in giving him life and beget his son Horus. This legend goes back to the early dynastic days and became widely known in later Roman days when it was elaborated upon by Plutarch. In the Middle Kingdom her popularity rose among the common people, together with that of her husband Wesir, and temples and shrines were built to her in those days. So far she had not been as popular as Het-Hert (Hathor), but in the New Kingdom Aset and Het-Hert (Gr: Hathor) began to merge. They were depicted in the same way and could only be identified, not by their iconography, but by their hieroglyphs. They were then both depicted wearing the sun-disc crowned with the two horns on top of their heads. Her cult continued to develop throughout the New Kingdom, and into the Late period. During this time she incorporated most of the traits of the other great goddesses and also some gods. It was probably easy for people to identify with her, especially for women, because of her sufferings as a widow and lonely mother. She was also greatly worshipped for her healing and protective powers and love spells and amulets (tyet knot) connected to Aset were frequently used. Her popularity grew and endured longer than any other Egyptian goddess into the Greek and Roman days when she became interpreted according to their cultural values and religious viewpoints.
The Roman Isis is the Goddess of Ten Thousand Names, the Great Mother Goddess. She is the goddess above all for women, the protector at childbirth, for nurturing and caring of children and for everyone that is in need of her. She absorbed many of the different Egyptian goddesses (Het-Hert, Mut, Neith, Serket) alonmg with their properties and abilities during the Roman days. Her popularity spread far beyond Egypt, all around the Mediterranean. She was even considered a Creator Goddess. Plutharch, who elaborated on the myth of Isis and Osiris, associated her with the moon, which could be further considered a sign of Roman influence, since the older form, the Egyptian Aset was associated with the sun. Since ancient days it was Djehuty (Thoth) and perhaps Nephthys who was assoicated with the moon. So She is rather more like an imported, adapted deity than an original, evolved one. The cult of Isis grew and became widely spread, probably because her traits as a mother goddess for everybody, and for her image as a widow and 'lone mother' evoked compassion and recognition. Temples were built to her far beyond Egypt, although it is said that the old temples of Aset long since had been destroyed, if indeed they were ever erected, which we don„t know for certain today.
Aset-Isis is sometimes depicted wearing the double-crown of Egypt and at times the Feather of Ma„at, but more often she wears the solar disc surrounded by two cow„s horns and a uraeus. She is also shown as an ordinary woman, wearing a woman„s headdress and with only the uraeus around her head. At all times as well as in Roman days she was known by many names and her capacities were manifold. In myth she learned the secret name of Ra and therefore she was called the "Eye of Ra" and the "Mistress of Magic". Knowing the true name of something or someone was equal to having power over it in ancient Egypt, so knowing the name of the Creator Ra meant she had access to great creative powers. It was said that together with Djehuty (Thoth) she taught men how to make and use medicines. She is also called the "Great Mourner", as when her husband was slain by Seth, it is said that she wailed and wept so much that the water in the Nile rose, and since that time there has been the inundation. As the Curer of poison she is called Serket, the scorpion deity, which is depicted as a woman with a scorpion above her head, and which might even be another aspect of Aset instead of a deity by herself. The star Sopdet (Sirius) is a symbol of Aset in the nightly sky. When it rises above the horison it is a sign that the new year begins and that the Inundation of the Nile is coming, which brings wealth and prosperity in Kemet (Egypt). And in the sky Aset is the companion of Osiris, who is symbolised by the star Sah (Orion).
Aset-Isis, Queen of P-aaleq (Philae) is above all the wife of Wesir (Osiris) and mourned his death when he was murdered by his brother Seth. She searched throughout the land for his body, restored him to life and gave birth to his son Horus. Here she is is called the Lady of Abaton, which means Lady of the Tomb, referring to the tomb of Osiris or the Lady of Philae. Here Aset and Het-Hert (Hathor), for whom there is a small temple, have merged into one deity. In the Mammissi of the temple of Isis, there were rites held at every new king„s ascendancy to the throne of Egypt, to manifest and secure his Divine birth. The hymns which are inscribed on the walls of the mammissis, which have been transcribed and translated, are all dedicated to, and partly describes these rituals. On the island of Bigeh next to Philae it is said that Osiris is buried. Therefore, every tenth day (which is one day a week according to the ancient Egyptian calendar) the Great Lady of Philae travels in a boat over to Bigeh to make offerings by her husband„s tomb. When she assists him in protecting the deceased in the Underworld she is called Ament. Further, she is present in the Hall of Judgment when the heart of the deceased is weighed aginst the Feather of Ma'at. The Throne is her most frequent symbol, but also the Knot of Isis, the tet, or tyet, which has its own story: it resembles the ankh, but its "arms" are bent down. It is likened to the knot in the girdle that the gods sometimes wear and it has been connected to Isis only in later days, the original meaning having been lost through time. It is made of a semi-precious red stone and is also called the Blood of Isis. It was used to decorate the tombs, together with the djed-pillar that is connected to Osiris, thus the two powerful forces, Isis and Osiris, are joined together, signifying the unity of the opposing world forces and thereby pointing at the unconquerable nature of life.