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"Raise yourself up, O Osiris! You have your backbone; you have your spine. Make yourself stand upon your feet." – Pyramid Texts, Spell 271.
The Djed Pillar is one of the most ancient and important symbols in Egyptian mythology. Resembling a column with four horizontal bars at the top, it represents stability, endurance, and immutability. While it began as a symbol of the creator god Ptah, it later became synonymous with the backbone of Osiris, the god of the dead and resurrection.
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The Backbone of a God
The origin of the Djed's shape is debated. Some scholars believe it represents a stylized tree trunk with lopped-off branches (recalling the myth where Osiris's coffin was encased in a tamarisk tree). Others see it as a sheaf of grain representing the harvest.
However, its most enduring association is as the spine or backbone of Osiris. Just as the spine keeps the body upright, the Djed pillar was believed to keep the cosmos stable and prevent the sky from falling.
The Raising of the Djed Ritual
The "Raising of the Djed" was a crucial ceremony performed by the Pharaoh, often during the Sed Festival (Jubilee) or coronation rites.
The Action
Using ropes, the King and priests would physically raise a massive wooden Djed pillar from a horizontal (dead) position to a vertical (living) position.
The Symbolism
This act symbolized the resurrection of Osiris, the victory of order (Ma'at) over chaos, and the renewal of the King's stability and authority over the land.
Protection for the Dead
In the Book of the Dead (Spell 155), a Djed amulet made of gold was placed on the neck of the mummy.
"Rise up, O Osiris! You have your backbone, O Still-Heart! You have your vertebrae... I have given you the water which is under you. I have brought you the Djed pillar of gold; may you be pleased with it."
This ensured that the deceased could stand upright in the afterlife, use their limbs, and possess eternal stability.