Hymns to Aset

Hymns to Aset/Isis

From the Temple of Aset at Philae--translations by Louis Zabkar in Hymns to Isis in Her Temple at Philae:

Praise to you, Aset, the Great One, God’s mother, Lady of Heaven, Mistress and Queen of the gods.

You are the First Royal Spouse of Wennefer/Osiris,

The Bull, The Lion who overthrows all his enemies, The Lord and ruler of eternity.

Praise to you, Aset, the Great One, God’s mother, Lady of Heaven, Mistress and Queen of the gods.

You are the First Royal Spouse of Wennefer/Osiris,

One who protects her brother and watches over the weary-of heart.

Praise to you, Aset, the Great One, God’s mother, Lady of Heaven, Mistress and Queen of the gods.

O Aset, the Great, God’s mother, lady of Philae, God’s Wife, God’s Adorer and God’s Hand,

God’s mother and Great Royal Spouse, Adornment and Lady of the Ornaments of the Palace.

Lady and desire of the green fields, Nursling who fills the palace with her beauty,

Fragrance of the palace, mistress of joy, Who completes her course in the Divine Place.

Rain-cloud that makes green the fields when it descends, Maiden, sweet of love, Lady of Upper and Lower Egypt,

Who issues orders among the divine Ennead, According to whose command one rules.

Princess, great of praise, lady of charm, Whose face enjoys the trickling of fresh myrrh.

Aset, giver of life, residing in the Sacred Mound, Satis, Lady of Biggeh:

She is the one who pours out the Inundation That makes all people live and green plants grow,

Who provides divine offerings for the gods, And invocation-offerings for the Transfigured Ones.

Because she is lady of Heaven, Her spouse is Lord of the Netherworld,

Her son is Lord of the Land, Her spouse is the pure water, rejuvenating himself at Biggeh at his time.

She is lady of Heaven, Earth, and the Netherworld, Having brought them into existence through what her heart conceived and her hands created,

She is the Bai that is in every city, Watching over her son Horus and her brother Osiris.

May Aset come to her House to join her Image, Her radiance underlying the faces,

Like the radiance of Ra when he shows himself in the morning.

The female Horus, beloved of the Great Horus, Mother of Horus, created by Atum,

Great Royal Spouse, united with Ra, Who protects her brother Osiris.

Mistress of flame who assaults the rebels, Who slays Apep/Apophis in an instant,

Uraeus of Ra, the Coiled One upon his head, Who gives orders in the barque of the King of Upper and Lower Egypt.

From the Stela of Amenmose and the Great Hymn of Osiris:

translations in Ancient Egyptian Literature Vol II by Miriam Lichtheim

[Aset] served as his protector, drove off the enemies, put a stop to the misdeed;

Removed the Enemy by power of her spell—golden-tongued, her speech cannot fail,

Skilled in command, beneficent Aset, who rescued her brother.

She searched for him, would not give in to her weariness, wandered about this land in mourning,

Would not take rest until she had found him.

She made him shade with her feathers, Made breeze by fanning her wings;

Danced the Dance of Last Mooring for her brother, Tempered the weakness of him who was weary of heart;

She received his seed, produced an heir; Brought up the child in solitude

(the place could not be known);

Introduced him, with his arm grown sturdy, Into the court of Geb.

Original Hymn Written in 2001 ACE by Khenmetaset (Marie Parsons)

Aset, Beautiful of Face, Giver of Life, Bringer of Right.

We call to You, We say Your Name, To learn Wisdom of Heart.

Life of Body, Strength of Ka, Loving Heart, Powerful Right.

Aset, Brightest Light of the Heavens,
Herald of Life-giving Waters;
Aset, Glorious Light that Sees All,
Giver of Life-Filled Waters;
Aset, Great Mistress of the Heavens,

Powerful of Magic,

You Breathe New Life, You Remove the Scorpion’s Sting,

You Guard the Birth, You Announce the King.

Traversing the Heavens On Enfolding Wings, You stand with Ra.

You Who know His Name.

Light His brow, Protect His power, Guide His people.

Wise in Knowledge, Powerful in Cleverness.

Guarding, Guiding, Reviving.

Foundation, Seat, Beginning,

You Know the Power of Love-
You Know the Power of Life---
You Know the Strength of Love---
You Know the Strength of Life---
Mother, Bear me-
Mother, Feed me-
Mother, Sustain me---
Mother, Protect me---
Throne of Might, Hail the King.
Throne of Glory, Shine on the King.
Throne of Cleverness, Make Wise the King.
Throne of Kingship, Crown the King.
Aset, you hid the Child, your Son,
Hide us from woes and ills.
Aset, you saved the Child, your Son,
Save us from wrongs and evils.
Aset, cleverest in the heavens,
Beautiful amongst the stars,
Aset, Mother, Sister, Wife,
Aset, Lover, Life, Throne,
In your Secrets, you know all.
In your Cleverness, you take Power.
In your Waters, you give Life.
Aset, Take our Devotion, as we give our Hearts.