The story of Isis obtaining the secret name of Ra is one of the most powerful tales in ancient Egyptian mythology, illustrating the supreme importance of words, magic, and divine authority. In the beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, every being possessed a public name and a secret true name, called Ren. Whoever knew a god’s true name could command, control, or wield the god’s full power. At this time, Ra was the supreme sun god, the creator of all things, known under different forms throughout the day: Khepri in the morning, Ra at noon, and Atum in the evening. Yet no one, not even other gods, knew Ra’s true secret name, which held the ultimate cosmic power.
Isis, the goddess of wisdom and cunning, desired this secret name for herself and for her son, Horus, to gain unrivaled power. She knew Ra was growing old, with silver bones, golden flesh, and hair of lapis lazuli, and that his weakness made him vulnerable. Observing that Ra often drooled as he moved, Isis devised a cunning plan. She collected the earth where Ra’s drool fell and mixed it with his essence to create a magical cobra. Because it was formed from Ra’s own vital energy, the serpent could strike him with a venom no god could heal by ordinary magic.
The cobra lay in wait on Ra’s usual path and struck, delivering a deadly bite to Ra’s leg, causing pain that burned like fire within his veins while his body grew ice-cold. Despite summoning all the gods to aid him, none could remove the poison, for its origin was the god himself. Isis then approached Ra, pretending concern, and said, “Father, tell me your true name. Only the one who knows it can remove this poison.” Ra initially tried to evade her, listing all his grand titles and forms, but Isis pressed, insisting, “Your secret name is not among these. Speak it, and the venom will vanish.”
Tormented beyond endurance, Ra finally yielded. He commanded the other gods to leave and transferred his secret name directly from his heart to Isis, on the condition that she reveal it only to her son Horus, who must also swear to keep it secret. Once Isis received the name, she chanted a powerful spell, instantly expelling the venom from Ra’s body. From that moment, Isis became known as Great of Magic, holding the key to controlling the cosmos through the power of Ra’s secret name. Ra, meanwhile, began to retreat from the earthly realm, passing authority to the younger gods.
This myth emphasizes that words and names are not mere sounds; they are instruments of creation and destruction. It highlights Isis’s intelligence, ambition, and mastery of magic while demonstrating the Egyptian belief in the divine potency of knowledge and language. The story also reflects a larger cosmic order where wisdom, cunning, and courage can surpass even the greatest of gods.