The Goddess Hathor
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Object Label
The complex nature of Egyptian deities is often indicated by their attributes. Osiris’s tightly wrapped mummy shroud and his crook and flail (symbolizing kingship) point to the legend of Osiris’s murder, mummification, and subsequent resurrection as the ruler of the underworld. The cobra held by his wife, Isis, represents the magic that revived her husband and guarded their son, Horus. As the rightful heir to Osiris’s throne and the embodiment of kingship, the falcon-god Horus wears the Double Crown.
Animals can also reveal divine qualities. The cow or cow-human forms of Hathor refer to her role as provider of milk to Horus and to young kings of Egypt. Bastet, another benevolent female deity, appears as a cat or cat-headed woman, carrying a basket and sistrum.
Certain deities, including Neith, Ptah, Nefertem, and Imhotep, were portrayed in human form. The ancient protectress Neith, associated with war and hunting, wears the flat-topped Red Crown of Lower Egypt. The Memphite creator-god Ptah holds a staff with hieroglyphs for life and permanence. Ptah’s son, Nefertem, a lotus on his head (symbolizing rebirth), defends Maat with his scimitar. Imhotep, the deified architect of Djoser’s pyramid, shares Ptah’s close-fitting cap, and the papyrus on his lap emphasizes wisdom and creativity.
Caption
The Goddess Hathor, ca. 664–30 B.C.E. or later. Bronze, gold, electrum, 7 1/2 x 1 7/16 x 2 7/8 in. (19 x 3.7 x 7.3 cm) mount (display dimensions): 10 x 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (25.4 x 6.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.356E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.356E_front_PS1.jpg)
Title
The Goddess Hathor
Date
ca. 664–30 B.C.E. or later
Period
Late Period to Ptolemaic Period
Geography
Reportedly from: Memphis, Egypt
Medium
Bronze, gold, electrum
Classification
Dimensions
7 1/2 x 1 7/16 x 2 7/8 in. (19 x 3.7 x 7.3 cm) mount (display dimensions): 10 x 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (25.4 x 6.4 x 8.9 cm)
Credit Line
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
Accession Number
37.356E
Rights
Creative Commons-BY
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Frequent Art Questions
Can you give me some info on "The Goddess Hathor"?
As you can tell from this figurine, Hathor was associated with cows. She was a goddess of fertility and love. The ancient Egyptians saw cows as symbol of fertility of the land and even conducted a periodic census of cows in the nation.You can see between the horns, there is a sun disk and a cobra known as a uraeus. Hathor was also closely tied to the sun god Re. The uraeus was a protective symbol seen on many royal and gods' headdresses.What is that symbol on top of her head?
It is the goddess Hathor's typical headdress: a sun disk with a uraeus cobra between two horns!It's a symbol of her connection to the life-giving sun and the god Re, while her cow head relates to her role as a fertility goddess.Thank you very much for all of your help!
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