The Secret Power of Names in Egyptian Myth

      It is said that each Egyptian god and goddess has a secret name. The secret name is the name aside from the name that is known by the others. In other words, each god and goddess has a "public" name, a name that is shown to the outside world and  used to communicate with others and also a "secret" name. The secret name is usually known only to the god himself or the goddess herself. This secret name has unlimited power for anyone else. Whoever has learned the secret name of a god or goddess can gain control over the god or goddess. (But note that the secret name must come from the owner's own lips to give the other power over the owner.)  Thus, one can well imagine, the secret name of the great god Ra is the most desirable gift to those ambitious for the throne of Ra.


Stories of Egyptian mythology

     Among the competitors for Ra's secret name, the final champion is the cunning granddaughter of Ra--Isis. According to Egyptian mythology, Isis took a very nasty approach to learn Ra's name. She took the chance when Ra was old and sick. By poisoning her grandfather with cure only known to herself, Isis asked Ra to tell her his secret name in exchange for the single remedy against the poison. Under such great agonies, Ra submitted to Isis's request. In the end, Isis did heal Ra but Ra's secret name business also gave her power over Ra.

     Isis's true aim isn't Ra's throne though. She simply used this secret name as a threat to force Ra to retreat into the heavens and opened the way for her beloved, Osiris, to become the new king of the gods.