<em>The Goddess Hathor</em>, 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). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.356E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.356E_front_PS1.jpg)

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). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.356E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.356E_front_PS1.jpg)

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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!

The Goddess Hathor

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: Old Kingdom to 18th Dynasty, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor

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.

MEDIUM Bronze, gold, electrum

Reportedly From: Memphis, Egypt

DATES ca. 664–30 B.C.E. or later

PERIOD Late Period to Ptolemaic Period

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) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 37.356E

CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Striding bronze figure of a cow-headed goddess, probably Hathor. The figure strides upon an inscribed rectangular base. She wears a lappet wig crowned with horns, sun-disk, uraeus on sun disk, and tall feathers (only partly preserved) behind disk. The figure's eyes are inlaid with gold and electrum. Condition: Upper part of feathers and tip of horns missing. Solid cast. Copper brown patina over whole piece. Base chipped and dented.

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Old Kingdom to 18th Dynasty, Egyptian Galleries, 3rd Floor

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). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 37.356E. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 37.356E_front_PS1.jpg)

IMAGE front, 37.356E_front_PS1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2006

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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