The Shelwit Temple of Isis (Deir el-Shelwit) is an ancient Egyptian temple which stands on the West bank of the Nile at Luxor. Today much of the temple is in ruins however the inside of the main building has well preserved reliefs. One of these inscriptions is a Hymn to Isis. This Isis temple is significant because of the hymn as well as the fact that it is the only temple associated with Isis and not the other gods of the Theban Triad.
The temple’s construction started under the reign of Nectanebo II, the last native Egyptian pharoah, who ruled in 360–342 BCE. The reliefs of the temple are similar to the ones in Dendera and Philae, and parts of the temple were constructed from reused blocks with reliefs and inscriptions dated to the New Kingdom (1600 BCE).
The Hymn of Aset (in Old Egyptian/Coptic)
Dwa Nthrw Nebet
Dwa Nthrw Nebet
Ta Nets Henwt Wa’t
Ta Nets Henwt Wa’t
Sendj
N Ist
Bagh N S Djet F
Bagh N S Djet F
Sendj N Ist
Henwt Ament
Bagh N S Djet F
Bagh N S Djet F
Sendj N Ist
Henwt Ament
Tawy M Isbwy
Sendj N Ist
Henwt Ament
Irt Re WrtHswt M Spawt
Sendj N Ist
Rdi Nes A’at N Nyswbity
English version
May gods adore the mistress (Isis)
May gods adore the mistress (Isis)
It is she, the sole mistress
It is she, the sole mistress
Have an Awe to Isis!
It is she who gave birth to the morning
It is she who gave birth to the morning
Have an Awe to Isis!
The mistress of the west
It is she who gave birth to the morning
It is she who gave birth to the morning
Have an Awe to Isis!
The mistress of the west
And the mistress of the two lands together
Have an Awe to Isis!
The mistress of the west
It is she, the eyes of Ra, greatly praised in Nomes
Have an Awe to Isis!
The one who grants many things to the king of Upper and Lower Egypt
To hear what we believe ancient Egyptian sounds like, this same hymn was performed by Amira Selim, as part of the Pharaohs’ Golden Parade held in Cairo Egypt on 3 April 2021. This parade was for the twenty-two mummies belonging to Kings and Queens of the New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt (18th, 19th, and 20th Dynasties) as they were moved from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat. Click here to hear A Reference to Isis.
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