The Osireion was unknown until an excavation in 1902 supervised by Petrie. However the actual work was largely carried out by Margaret Murray and Petrie's wife. The whole site was not finally uncovered until 1926 by Henri Frankfort.

The name 'Osireion' was invented by Petrie for this unique structure. Which he interpreted as a symbolic tomb of Osiris.

It dates from the reign of Seti I in the New Kingdom period.

It is situated to the West of Seti's Temple at Abydos.

The Osireion is not orientated on the compass points as it sits approximately at 45° to a North South axis. North is in the bottom right hand corner of the photograph opposite.