The ceremonies held in honor of Isis at the city of Busiris have already been described, but they deserve further explanation because of their deep emotional and religious meaning. At this festival, a very large crowd gathers, made up of both men and women. Their numbers reach many thousands, showing how important this event is in Egyptian religious life.
At the end of the sacrifices, the entire crowd takes part in a powerful ritual. They beat their own bodies as a sign of mourning and respect for a god whose name cannot be spoken openly. This silence is due to a religious rule that forbids mentioning the god’s name during this ceremony. The act of beating themselves is not done in anger or punishment, but as a sacred expression of grief and devotion Private Tour Istanbul.
The Actions of the Carians in Egypt
Among those attending the festival are Carians, foreigners who live in Egypt. On this occasion, they go even further than the Egyptians in showing their devotion. The Carians cut their faces with knives until blood appears. By doing this, they clearly show that they are not Egyptians but outsiders with different customs.
This act serves two purposes. First, it is a sign of extreme religious feeling. Second, it openly separates them from the Egyptian people, whose traditions forbid such behavior. The Egyptians see this difference clearly, and the ritual becomes a visible reminder of how various cultures practice their beliefs in different ways, even when honoring the same gods.
The Festival at Sais
Another important religious gathering takes place at the city of Sais. This festival includes sacrifices, but it is especially known for a unique event that happens during the night. On that evening, the people of Sais light a great number of lamps in the open air around their homes.
The lamps are simple but symbolic. They are shaped like shallow saucers and are filled with oil mixed with salt. A floating wick rests on the surface of the oil and burns steadily throughout the night. The soft glow from thousands of lamps fills the streets and homes with light Egyptian Influence on Greek Religious Practices.
The Feast of Lamps
Because of this custom, the festival is known as the Feast of Lamps. The light is not only practical but deeply religious. It represents purity, remembrance, and divine presence. The burning lamps turn the night into a sacred time, different from all other nights of the year.
Even Egyptians who cannot travel to Sais still take part in the ceremony. On the same night, people across the entire country light lamps in their own homes. As a result, the illumination spreads far beyond the city itself and covers all of Egypt. This shared act unites the people in a single religious observance, no matter where they live.
The Sacred Meaning of the Night
The Egyptians explain that there is a special religious reason for honoring this night with so much light. The lamps are not lit for decoration alone. They are part of an ancient tradition connected to the gods and to events remembered through sacred stories. Although the full meaning is known only to the priests, the people believe that the light pleases the gods and protects their homes.
Religious Unity and Tradition
These festivals at Busiris and Sais show how deeply religion shaped Egyptian life. Through mourning, light, sacrifice, and shared customs, the people expressed devotion and unity. These practices also reveal how carefully the Egyptians preserved their traditions and passed them down through generations.
