Veil of Isis

The veil of Isis is a metaphor and allegorical artistic motif representing the inaccessibility of nature's secrets, personified as the goddess Isis shrouded by a veil or mantle.

The motif traces back to a statue in the ancient Egyptian city of Sais. As recounted by Greco-Roman authors, the statue of the veiled goddess bore the inscription: "I am all that has been and is and shall be; and no mortal has ever lifted my mantle."

Illustrations of Isis with her veil being lifted were popular beginning in the late 17th century, often as allegorical representations of Enlightenment progress uncovering nature's mysteries. By the end of the 18th century, the unveiling of Isis was invoked as a metaphor for the revelation of awe-inspiring truths beyond scientific discovery. The 1877 book Isis Unveiled influenced Western esotericism and Neopagan movements, promulgating the metaphor to modern magical and spiritual practices.

The veil of Isis was often combined with a related motif, portraying nature as a goddess with multiple breasts, who represents Isis, Artemis, or a combination of both.