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| In the Memphitic
myth, Ra, the sun god, cast out his eye in the shape of his daughter Hathor,
whose mission was to destroy mankind in revenge for their disrespect. |
Ra, upon seeing the
slaughter meeted out by Hathor, relented. Hathor however, was not so easily
swayed and had to be enticed away from the smell of human blood by a lake of
blood-coloured beer.
She succumbed to this cunnning trick, drank her fill
and became intoxicated. Her blood lust was thus turned to a loving sweetness.
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Hathor can be seen in
many pictures and sculptures in any of her three forms, each of which is
symbolic:
- Cow=motherly love
- Lioness=the fury of a lioness defending her cubs
- Beautiful woman=the power of feminine sensuality
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| The "menit"
necklace is associated with Hathor who used it as the medium through which her
power was transmitted. As a consequence of this, Hathor was also known as "The
Great Menit". The "menit" necklace was a heavy band in the shape of a crescent
with a counterpoise at the rear.
The sistrum, which was a hooped percussion instrument
shaped like an ankh, was also associated with Hathor. Like the ankh, it carried
the significance of "life".
Hathor was the most widely worhshipped goddess of Ancient
Egypt. |
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