Tag: hathor

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Egyptian Artifacts

Hathor – the Beautiful Cow!

Is this a beautiful woman 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓁐 or a cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒?! The answer is both because this image 𓏏𓅱𓏏 from The Book of the Dead of Imhotep (at the MET) is of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Hathor 𓉡 in her cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 form!

Hathor 𓉡 is one of the most prominent goddesses 𓊹𓊹𓊹𓏏 of the Egyptian pantheon, and her roles evolved over time. Along with Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥, she is regarded as the “divine mother” of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻, but is also the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of love, joy 𓄫𓏏𓄣, music 𓉔𓇌𓆸 (she was often depicted on sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪), and dance – basically the fun things in life 𓋹! Hathor is also mentioned as the the wife 𓂑𓏏𓁐 of Horus 𓅃𓀭, and the daughter 𓅭𓏏of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛, though through times some of these relations have changed/evolved. 

The name 𓂋𓈖 “Hathor 𓉡“ in Middle Egyptian translates to “House of Horus” which links Hathor 𓉡 to the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯 (because the sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯 is where Horus 𓅃𓀭 dwells). Absorbing the roles of pre-dynastic deities, Hathor was associated with both the night 𓎼𓂋𓎛𓄛 sky 𓊪𓏏𓇯 and the Milky Way Galaxy 𓄟𓋴𓈎𓏏𓈊. 

Another function that Hathor 𓉡 possessed that  not many are aware of was that she was also a prominent funerary goddess 𓊹𓏏! One of her roles was to provide peace and solace to the souls 𓂓𓂓𓂓 of the deceased 𓅓𓏏𓏱 as they entered the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. She was referred to as “Mistress of the West,” and could be found welcoming the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 with fresh water 𓈗. She also earned the title “Lady of the Sycamore,” and was also seen as a tree 𓆭𓅓𓆭 goddess 𓊹𓏏. 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Museum Display at the Louvre

I love the randomness of some museum displays – there’s always so much to look at! By “randomness,” I’m referring to the varying objects that can be grouped together, however they are from the same time period so the conglomeration of different objects can give you a sense of the varying objects common during that period! It also gives you a look into the art styles that were popular!

Starting from the left, you can see a figure of the god Bes 𓃀𓋴𓄜. Bes 𓃀𓋴𓄜 didn’t become commonly worshipped until the beginning of the New Kingdom. He was the god of childbirth, protector of the household 𓉐𓏺, and defender of all that is good! He was considered to be a “demonic fighter,” and was also a war god.

There are two 𓏻 ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 figures with beautiful hieroglyphic 𓊹𓌃𓏪 inscriptions. These little guys were buried with the deceased and were meant to be their servants in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐. Most ushabtis 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾𓏪 are inscribed with a spell that tells you what their function was. When Osiris 𓁹𓊨 𓀭 called upon the deceased for labor, the deceased would say the spell on the ushabti 𓆷𓄿𓍯𓃀𓏏𓏮𓀾 and it would come to life and perform the labor in place of the deceased!

Next are the sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪! A sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 was almost like an ancient tambourine or rattle – while the part that makes the music is often not found intact, the handle with Hathor’s 𓉡 face usually is. Sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪 can be found dating back to the Old Kingdom, but most that are found are usually from the Late – Graeco/Roman periods.

And lastly, a statue of the goddess Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐! Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 was one of my Nonno’s favorite mythological figures. Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐 was a war goddess and was associated with the destructive aspects of the sun 𓇳𓏺 (like the unrelenting heat of the desert).

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Egyptian Artifacts

A Column that Looks like a Sistrum

This may look like a sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣, but it’s actually a column from a temple 𓉟𓏏𓉐! 

A column that looks like a sistrum (with Hathor) at the MET

A sistrum 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣 was a musical instrument (like a rattle/tambourine) that was associated with the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Hathor 𓉡. Sistrums 𓊃𓈙𓈙𓏏𓏣𓏪 usually had Hathor’s 𓉡 head 𓁶𓏤 (complete with her cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 ears) on top of a long handle – just like this column!

While it is difficult to tell in this picture 𓏏𓅱𓏏, some paint 𓇨𓂋𓅱𓏭𓏸𓏦 is still left on the column! Based on scientific testing of the trace pigments left behind, Hathor’s 𓉡 hair would have been blue 𓇋𓁹𓏏𓄿𓏸𓏥! Fun fact: “Egyptian Blue” is the oldest synthetic color pigment in the whole world!

There are images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 of Hathor 𓉡 and inscriptions 𓏟𓏛𓏥 on all four 𓏽 sides as well!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! This inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥 is exciting because these are all phrases I have taught through my previous posts! See if you can read along before reading the translation!!!

𓊹𓄤 – The Great God 

𓎟𓇿𓇿 – Lord of the Two Lands

𓇳𓆣𓂓 – Kheperkare (Nectanbo’s throne name)

How well did you do? We’re you able to read the inscription 𓏟𓏛𓏥? Let me know!!

This piece is dated to the Late Period, Dynasty 30, reign of Nectanebo I (c. 380–362 B.C.E.). 

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Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Sculpture of the Goddess Hathor

This limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 sculpture of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Hathor 𓉡 is one of my favorite pieces that I saw in the Louvre. This piece is dated to the Ptolemaic Period, and used to be part of a column.

Hathor’s 𓉡 name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 is quite unique compared to some of the other gods/goddesses. Her name 𓂋𓈖 is composed of a composite hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 which literally translates to “House of Horus.” Hathor 𓉡 was the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of women 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐𓏪, motherhood, joy, music 𓉔𓇌𓆸, happiness 𓄫𓅱𓏛, and a goddess 𓊹𓏏 of the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.

One detail that I love about this piece is that Hathor 𓉡 is shown with her cow ears! Hathor 𓉡 was usually depicted in Egyptian art as either a woman 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐 or a cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒, so this little detail is just so cool! Another detail that I love is how her wig is decorated with rosettes! The details are in raised relief, which only make them stand out more.

In Middle Egyptian, the words “beautiful woman” and “cow” were the same – the only thing that was different was the determinative symbol! This was most likely due to an association with Hathor 𓉡, and to this day remains one of my favorite “fun facts” about hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓁐 (beautiful woman)
𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 (cow)

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Egyptian Artifacts

Limestone Stela Dedicated to Hathor

I’m making another post with Hathor 𓉡 in it because why not?! Hathor 𓉡 was the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of women 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐𓏪, motherhood, joy, music 𓉔𓇌𓆸, happiness 𓄫𓅱𓏛, and a goddess 𓊹𓏏 of the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.

This limestone 𓇋𓈖𓈙𓌉 stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 is dated to the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom). The stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸 was dedicated to Hathor 𓉡 and the 11th Dynasty pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Montuhotep II 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 by a priest 𓊹𓍛 named An. On this stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸, Hathor 𓉡 appears in her cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 form, while the human figure (probably Montuhotep II) on the left is cut off. An is not pictured on the stela 𓎗𓅱𓆓𓉸, which means it was probably already made and An just had his name 𓂋𓈖 added to it. It was most likely placed in a shrine at Deir el-Bahri, because both Hathor 𓉡 and Montuhotep II 𓏠𓈖𓍿𓅱𓊵𓏏𓊪 were both worshipped there. It was not uncommon for pharaohs 𓉐𓉻𓏦 to be worshipped long after they died.

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓊹𓄤𓎟𓇿𓇿(𓇳𓊤𓎟) – “The Great God, Lord of the Two Lands, Nebhapetra” (Nebhapetra is Montuhotep II’s throne name)

𓉡𓏏𓊓𓁷𓏏𓊖𓋆 – “Hathor, Chief one of Thebes” (Thebes can also be written as “𓌀𓏏𓊖” – I’m just copying the symbol directly from the stela, even though it may look “backwards”).

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Reading Hieroglyphs

Seti I and the Goddess Hathor

The relief shows Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 and the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Hathor 𓉡. Hathor 𓉡 was known as the Lady of the West (the underworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐). The West and the Underworld 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐 were equated by the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 because the sun 𓇳𓏺 set in the west! Here, she is seen welcoming Seti I 𓇳𓁦𓏠 into her domain, while offering him her menat necklace 𓋧, a symbol of protection. They are even holding hands 𓂧𓏏𓏺! This relief was originally from Seti I’s 𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖 tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐, which is actually the biggest tomb 𓇋𓐫𓊃𓉐 in the Valley of the Kings!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

𓉡𓁶𓁷𓏏𓏏𓊖𓋆 – “Hathor, Chief one of Thebes”

𓎟𓇿𓇿(𓇳𓁦𓏠) – “Lord of the Two Lands, Maatmenra” (Maatmenra is the throne name)

𓎟𓈍𓏥(𓊪𓏏𓎛𓁣𓇌𓌸𓈖) – “Lord of the Two Lands Seti, Beloved of Ptah” (Seti is the birth name)

𓏙𓋹 𓇳𓏇𓏺𓆖 – “Given Eternal Life, Like Ra”

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Egyptian Artifacts

Linen Textile in Honor of Hathor

This is a linen 𓍱 textile that was made in honor of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Hathor 𓉡 and was meant to be placed at her shrine 𓐍𓊃𓅓𓂜𓉐 at Deir el-Bahri 𓂦𓂋𓂦𓏥𓉐.

In the beautifully 𓄤 colored images 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓏦 on the right side of the linen 𓍱, we can see Hathor 𓉡 in her cow 𓄤𓆑𓂋𓏏𓃒 form standing on a boat 𓂧𓊪𓏏𓊞, encompassed by a shrine 𓐍𓊃𓅓𓂜𓉐, and surrounded by lotus flowers 𓆸𓆸𓆸. Below Hathor’s 𓉡 head 𓁶𓏤, stands a small figure in black 𓆎𓅓 that is representative of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Montuhotep II 𓇳𓊤𓎟. We know that it’s Montuhotep II 𓇳𓊤𓎟 because of the cartouche next to the small figure!

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!
𓊹𓄤 – Great/Perfect God
(𓇳𓊤𓎟) – Nebhapetra (Montuhotep II)

Next to Hathor 𓉡, the hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 read:
𓉡 – Hathor
𓎟𓏏𓇯- Lady/Mistress of Heaven
𓁷𓊓𓋆𓏏𓊖 – Chief One of Thebes

On the left side, the first man standing before 𓐍𓂋 Hathor 𓉡 has his arms raised, which is to represent him worshipping 𓇼𓄿𓀢 the goddess 𓊹𓏏.

Hathor’s 𓉡 name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪 is quite unique compared to some of the other gods/goddesses. Her name 𓂋𓈖 is composed of a composite hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 which literally translates to “House of Horus.” Hathor 𓉡 was the goddess 𓊹𓏏 of women 𓊃𓏏𓂑𓏏𓁐𓏪, motherhood, joy, music 𓉔𓇌𓆸, happiness 𓄫𓅱𓏛, and a goddess 𓊹𓏏 of the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐.

Categories
Reading Hieroglyphs

Hathor in Hieroglyphs

Let’s read some hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪!

This is the name 𓂋𓈖 of the goddess 𓊹𓏏 Hathor 𓉡 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! I’m sure you can see this, but Hathor’s name is unique compared to that of the other deities! This is because her name is written with a composite hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃! A composite hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 is the combination of many symbols into one symbol! Hathor’s 𓉡 name 𓂋𓈖 is the combination of an enclosure 𓉗 and the falcon 𓅃.

𓉗 +𓅃 = 𓉡

If the two 𓏻 symbols were written separately, we would actually read Hathor’s 𓉡 name 𓂋𓈖 as “House of Horus” or “Estate of Horus” (depending on how you translated the 𓉗 hieroglyph) – so that is the literal translation of her name 𓂋𓈖!

Just like other deities, there are many ways to write Hathor’s 𓉡 name 𓂋𓈖 in hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Here are some of ways:
𓁥
𓉡𓁥
𓉗𓁷𓂋𓆗 𓉡

Also, just look at how beautifully 𓄤 carved this hieroglyph 𓊹𓌃 is! I will never not be amazed at the incredible craftsmanship of the ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪!