Is this a beautiful womanΒ π€ππππΒ or a cowΒ π€ππππ?! The answer is both because this image ππ ±π from The Book of the Dead of Imhotep (at the MET) is of the goddess πΉπ Hathor π‘ in her cowΒ π€ππππΒ form!
Hathor π‘ is one of the most prominent goddesses πΉπΉπΉπ of the Egyptian pantheon, and her roles evolved over time. Along with Isis π¨ππ₯, she is regarded as the βdivine motherβ of the pharaoh ππ», but is also the goddess πΉπ of love, joy π«ππ£, music πππΈ (she was often depicted on sistrums πππππ£πͺ), and dance – basically the fun things in life πΉ! Hathor is also mentioned as the the wife πππ of Horus π π, and the daughter π πof Ra π³πΊπ, though through times some of these relations have changed/evolved.
The name ππ βHathor π‘β in Middle Egyptian translates to βHouse of Horusβ which links Hathor π‘ to the sky πͺππ― (because the sky πͺππ― is where Horus π π dwells). Absorbing the roles of pre-dynastic deities, Hathor was associated with both the night πΌπππ sky πͺππ― and the Milky Way Galaxy ππ΄πππ.
Another function that Hathor π‘ possessed that not many are aware of was that she was also a prominent funerary goddess πΉπ! One of her roles was to provide peace and solace to the souls πππ of the deceased π ππ± as they entered the afterlife πΌπΏππ. She was referred to as βMistress of the West,β and could be found welcoming the dead π ππ± with fresh water π. She also earned the title βLady of the Sycamore,β and was also seen as a tree ππ π goddess πΉπ.