Not everybody is aware that in the immediate vicinity of the Great Pyramid is a temple dedicated to the Ancient Egyptian goddess Isis, first excavated by Auguste Mariette in 1858, and then again by George Reisner and also Selim Hassan in the early 20th century.

The temple sits next to the Great Pyramid’s satellite pyramid of Henutsen, the second or third wife of Khufu. The temple was originally a funerary chapel associated with this pyramid and its status as a Temple dedicated to Isis, wasn’t established until the 18th dynasty, or possibly as early as the Middle Kingdom.

So although there is no evidence of an Old Kingdom Isis Temple at Giza, we do know that in later times, Isis was worshipped here and that she was known as the Mistress or Lady of the Pyramid, and was revered in such a way right up to the Roman period. The full name of the temple is ‘Temple of Isis Mistress of the Pyramid” and there is evidence that the local cult of Isis also had its own priesthood.

Watch this video to learn more about the Temple of Isis, whether it could be an Old Kingdom structure, also also how it ties in with the 18th dynasty depiction of Rostau, the Ancient Egyptian underworld that was ruled by Sokar. Does this explain why Isis is the Mistress of the Pyramid?