What Was the Role of Osiris in the Egyptian Concepts of Immortality and Life after Death?

Osiris, as the god of death, vegetation and fertility, became an increasingly prominent figure in the lives of the Egyptian people and became core to their concepts of immortality and life after death. Osiris was depicted in human form clad in mummies wrappings. The fact that he takes human form allows the Egyptian people to identify with him much more easily, thus allowing the supposed transformation into him more readily accepted. The mummy's wrappings are a result of his death and eventual resurrection. He also holds a crook and flail symbolizing power and was often depicted with green skin, alluding to his role as a god of vegetation.
As a deity Osiris was originally very passive and of relatively little importance. It was even believed he wasn't even able to speak out for himself against the other god's until the 9th or 10th dynasty. However, as burials and funeral rites became paramount in Egyptian culture, he naturally became the supreme god of Egypt. It is evident that as he became a more and more celebrated figure (as generations passed, different Gods became more or less popular) he began to absorb the attributes of the less important deities.…