Hathor

Hathor is a major deity in ancient Egyptian religion, traditionally associated with love, beauty, music, dance, motherhood, and joy. She was worshipped across many periods and regions, sometimes seen as a sky goddess and, in some myths, as the mother or consort of kings; she is also identified with the Eye of Ra in certain contexts.

Her name is usually read as Hathor from the ancient Egyptian ḥwt-ḥr.t, commonly interpreted as “House of Horus” or a similar title. She is typically depicted as a cow or a cow-headed woman, often with a solar disk framed by cow horns, and frequently shown holding or accompanied by the sistrum, a musical instrument. She is also associated with the sycamore tree and, in some representations, with the Milky Way as a celestial mother figure.

As a goddess of motherhood and fertility, Hathor protected women in childbirth and nurtured the king and people. Her cult was central to daily life and temple rituals, with a major focus at the Temple of Hathor at Dendera and widespread worship in centers such as Memphis and Thebes. She also held roles tied to joy, fertility, and celebratory aspects of society, including music and ritual dance.

In myth, Hathor can be linked to the Eye of Ra, representing either a protective or a destructive aspect depending on context. The Destruction of Mankind narrative describes Ra appeasing Hathor’s ferocity by yielding beer, transforming her into a benevolent goddess.

Her influence extended into later periods, with the Greeks associating her with Aphrodite. While her cult diminished under Christianization, Hathor remains a central symbol in studies of ancient Egyptian religion and gendered symbolism.