PART 6 – Ch.XXXVI.4

The Great Pelasgian empire

(The reign of Saturn)

PART 6

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XXXVI. 4. Saturn’s war with Osyris.

After becoming master over most of the ancient world, Saturn had to wage two long and arduous wars, one against Osyris, who had proclaimed himself king of Egypt, and the other with his son Jove, wars which had fatal consequences for the fate of the Pelasgian empire.

Osyris, also called Dionysos by the Greeks (Herodouts, lib. II. 144; Diodorus Siculus, lib. I. 11), was an African from Ethiopia by origin. His father, as he asserted, had been Ammon (Uranos), the king of Libya and Egypt (Diodorus Siculus, lib. I. 15. 6; III. 68, 70). According to some traditions, Osyris had been reared at Nysa in Arabia, and according to other authors, at Nysa near the river Triton in Libya, where he had received instruction in all the branches of ancient sciences.

We find with Diodorus the following notes about the war of Saturn with Dionysos-Osyris:

After occupying the kingdom of Ammon, Saturn led his troupes against Dionysos-Osyris, who had proclaimed himself at Nysa as legitimate son of Ammon (lib. I. III. 71-72), and where he had gathered a numerous army, composed especially of African elements. After a fierce battle on both sides, Saturn being wounded and defeated, retreated with the troupes of the Titans to the places where Ammon had previously ruled.

Dionysos-Osyris, taking with him the Titans which he had taken prisoners, returned to Nysa. There, he proclaimed himself “god” (king over Egypt); he asked the captive Titans to swear to faithfully fight for him, in order to accomplish what he had started, and then he led again his troupes against Saturn and his other allied Titans, who were in the city of Ammon, polis ‘Amonion, or Theba.

Saturn with the troupes of the Titans met Dionysos-Osyris in front of the walls of the citadel, but was again defeated. Saturn tried to put fire to the city overnight and then fled. But Osyris caught Saturn and Rhea, and freed them only after they adopted him as a son, with the right of inheriting the empire (Pierret, Le livre d. morts, p. 116, 213, 397).

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