Hathor - The Great Mother

She was sometimes shown as a woman with a cow head, or as a woman with only cow ears, or also as a woman with cow horns.

In some myths, she is thought to have risen around the same time as Ra and took her place beside him on the solar boat. She is considered a sky-goddess and thus wore a solar disk on her head (even in her cow form). And although almost all the deities in ancient Egypt had both benevolent and what one would consider "unholy" qualities, the two polarities were really pronounced with her. See if you don't agree...

She was considered to be the expression of beauty, femininity and goodness. She represented the woman and was the Goddess of love, music, art and joy. But at one instance she can transform into a blood-thirsty destroyer of man! Yes, our lovely peaceful cow was known for her killing rampage on us mortals.

Ra had at one point lost the respect of mankind, and they laughed and taunted him, ridiculing his old age and loss of potency. He had decided to punish them and sent out his powerful daughter to teach them a lesson.

Hathor thus transformed into the fearless lioness Sekhmet to carry out these orders. She slaughtered people left and right and became addicted to it. She started to love it! She was enjoying it so much that even after Ra asked her to stop, she couldn't. It was only after a lot of effort and trickery that the gods managed to stop her from wiping out the entire human race.

Hathor’s Function and Worship

She also fed and watered the souls (like a good mother) to help them on their journey, letting them rest to eat and drink under the shade of her sacred sycamore tree.

She also became the gate-keeper and greeter of the dead at the entrance of the Western Mountains where the underworld was. She was thus named "The Lady of the West". Very poetic!

The ancient Egyptians worshipped her lovingly, and her main cult was in Dendera. Her face was also carved into some of the most impressive tombs and temples, such as Hatshepsut's and Nefertari's.

Alongside Isis, she also had a temple at Philae. Definitely another place to check out when you visit!

Return from Hathor to Egyptian Gods

Return from Hathor to the Experience Ancient Egypt Home Page