Hathor was at one time the most popular and important female goddess in Egyptian mythology, before she was overshadowed by other goddesses. However, Hathor’s legacy and abilities remained important to the Egyptian people. Hathor is both a sky and solar deity and has the coveted title of the Eye of Ra. Her association with happiness, dance, love, and even sexuality differs from some of the intensity and wrath of Hathor’s fellow goddesses. Hathor’s spirit of beauty and cosmetics has influenced Egyptian culture for years and her abilities and traits hone in the nurturing and serene side of the Egyptian deities.

Source: Brooklyn Museum

Overview of Hathor

Hathor is both a solar and sky deity. She is popularly known for being the female counterpart of Horus, god of the war and sky. Horus is the son of the popular Isis and Osiris. Hathor was seen as the mother of the pharaohs—she was the symbolic mother of the people on Earth who represent power. Hathor was one of the many goddesses who shared the role of the Eye of Ra, others include Isis, Sekhmet, and Bastet. 

This goddess was associated with music, dance, joy, maternal care, cosmetics, beauty, love, fertility, pleasure and sexuality. Although Hathor is associated with some traits of wrath from being the Eye of Ra, most of her associations align with happiness, serenity and femininity. 

Titles

Hathor has plenty of titles beginning with “mistress of.” “Mistress of the sky,” “mistress of the stars,” and “mistress of love” are just a few. Hathor is also known as “mother of mothers,” “hand of God” and “lady of vulva.” The goddess’ name translates to “house of Horus,” her son, which could refer to her womb being the house for Horus. Her name can also translate to “my house is the sky.”

Abilities

Many of Hathor’s abilities relate to her traits of femininity and sexuality. This goddess has the beautiful power of being protective of females and being a guide in the world of fertility, childbirth and motherhood. Like many other goddesses, Hathor also acts as a guide in the afterlife. She assists souls in the transition to the afterlife—something that was very important to the ancient Egyptians. Hathor was also known as a protector and mother to many child deities, specifically pharaohs. She had the ability to provide nourishment and protection to these children. 

Source: Ancient Origins

Characteristics

Hathor is usually depicted as a cow, or as a woman wearing a headdress of cow horns, to symbolize the maternal traits of the goddess. Some believe that Hathor is the personification of the Milky Way and that the milk from her udders created the sky and the stars. Hathor could also be represented as a sycamore tree, cobra, or lioness. The sun disc is also present in the depictions of Hathor in association with her role of the Eye of Ra. Hathor was often shown wearing a menat, a beaded necklace that symbolizes rebirth in Egyptian culture.

Traits

One very interesting and unique trait of Hathor was her association to sexuality. In one short story from the Middle Kingdom named “The Tale of the Herdsman,” a herdsman encounters an animal-like goddess one day, and a beautiful, nude goddess the next. Most people believed this to be Hathor. Another text describes the loss of a lock of Hathor’s hair as her sexual allure. 

An Eye of Ra goddess is the mother, sibling, daughter and more of Ra. An eye goddess is usually represented as a lioness, cobra or other protective symbols. The Eye of Ra is an extension of Ra’s powers and is associated with the sun disc. The sun and moon are referred to as the “eyes” of Egyptian gods and goddesses by ancient Egyptians. Although Hathor was mostly known for her softer side, she could also be tempered and bold as the Eye of Ra.

Symbols

Similar to Bastet, the sistrum, an ancient Egypt instrument, is a symbol of Hathor. Specific to Hathor, however, is the sycamore tree. This tree is a symbol of life to the Egyptians. The milky sap from the tree represents fertility. Another milk related symbol of Hathor is the cow. Ancient Egyptians viewed milk as the ultimate source of nourishment and motherhood, and Hathor is often depicted as a cow. Her symbols relate to the nourishment of life and the longevity of life.

Source: Boston Museum

Festivals and Rituals

Hathor had more temples dedicated to her than any other Egyptian goddess. She even was worshiped in the temples of male gods as well. Hathor was connected with foreign lands and the goods they provided. Some examples would be Nubia and Canaan. Hathor’s most important temple was Dendera. She was commonly worshiped in private prayer and offerings, specifically by women who wanted children. In hymns and temples, calming and delightful instruments were played in Hathor’s honor. Wearing cosmetics was seen as a form of worship to the goddess as well. People would offer mirrors or cosmetics palettes to her. Every year, Hathor’s statue would be carried by boat to Edfu to be reunited with Horus, and then a festival would begin celebrating the union. Her festival often included lots of celebration of music, dance, song and joy. Celebrating beauty and sexuality was a big way ancient Egyptians worshiped Hathor in everyday life. Hathor, however, became overshadowed by Isis and the end of the New Kingdom.

Legends associated with Hathor

Hathor’s origins and legends aren’t super well-articulated and necessarily one of her own, but Hathor has connections to other popular legends and origin stories—specifically her sister, Sekhmet.

Origin story

There are many variations and subtle differences to the origin story of Hathor and her sister Sekhmet. It was said that the powerful Ra sent Hathor to Earth in the form of a lioness because of his distaste with humanity. Hathor began her rampage on the human population, but was taking it too far. The fields ran with human blood and Ra needed her to stop because he saw too much damage being done. Hathor ignored Ra’s orders to stop, so Ra poured beer and pomegranate juice, which looked like blood, in Hathor’s path. She drank the mixture believing it was blood and became so intoxicated she slept for three days straight. When she awoke from her drunken state, Sekhmet was created and the goddess no longer blood thirsty and humanity was saved.

Source: God and Demons Wiki

A humorous dance

A notable legend of Hathor that is very odd and not fully developed involves Hathor’s association and exploration of sexuality. During the trial of Horus and Set (which can be found in Isis’ story), the sun god Ra was insulted by another god and stormed off and out of the trial. Hathor followed Ra and started dancing for him while flashing her vulva. Ra found humorous and his spirit lifted, allowing him to return to the trial so it could continue on.

Modern appearances 

There was a version of Hathor in the 2016 movie Gods of Egypt portrayed by Élodie Yung. This version of Hathor was in love with Horus (the film’s Horus was not the same Horus she married in traditional Egyptian mythology). Brian Swann’s 2010 poem Hathor was in reference to the Egyptian goddess and her association with cows.

Final thoughts

Hathor’s ability to create a nurturing and serene presence amidst the intensity of many of the other gods and goddesses makes her a fan favorite in ancient Egyptian times. Although she was later overshadowed by Isis, Hathor’s dedication to beauty, sexuality, fertility and motherhood solidified her title as one of the most popular goddesses in ancient Egyptian times.

Sources

Ahdifard, U. (2023, April 10). Who was Hathor?. Getty News. https://www.getty.edu/news/who-was-hathor-egyptian-goddess-ancient-nubia/ 

Dhar, R. (2023, March 15). Hathor: Ancient Egyptian goddess of many names. History Cooperative. https://historycooperative.org/hathor/ 

Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Hathor. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hathor-Egyptian-goddess 

Hathor – Explore deities of ancient Egypt. (n.d.). https://egyptianmuseum.org/deities-hathor 

Hathor. Mythopedia. (n.d.). https://mythopedia.com/topics/hathor 

The goddess Maat, but also the name of the Egyptian system of laws. Maat is more of a concept and individual deity, rather than a tangible goddess. She is associated with everything related to a system of laws—morality, balance, order, justice and truth. Maat is one of the many daughters of the powerful sun god Ra. Her traits and symbols are often associated with the pharaohs, since they are the human embodiment of Maat and hold the position of maintaining laws and ensuring justice is served.

Source: Saatchi Art

Overview of Maat

Maat is the goddess of law, truth, balance, morality, justice, order and anything along the lines of maintaining a moral lifestyle. This goddess regulated the stars, the seasons and the actions of other mortals and deities. The earliest records of Maat during the Old Kingdom indicate that she is the norm for nature and society in all worlds. Pharaohs were often depicted with symbols and aspects of Maat to symbolize their roles upholding law and order in ancient Egypt. Maat had a male counterpart named Isfet, who was everything Maat was not. He was chaos, violence, evil and injustice.

Abilities

Maat’s abilities are simply representing the ethical and moral principles and rules that all Egyptian citizens followed. She assisted in regulating the morals and ensuring that justice is served. Ancient Egyptians were expected to act truthfully in all matters including family, community, environment, nation and the deities. Maat embraced all aspects of existence in the world including the cycling of the seasons, honesty in social interactions, the equilibrium of the universe and so much more. Maat bounded all aspects together in unity—universe, environment, state and individuals. These aspects were all seen as little parts to a wider idea generated by Maat.

Characteristics

Maat was most commonly depicted as a young woman, usually with wings on each arm or an ostrich feather on her head—an ode to a ritual involving a feather specific to Maat. She was often seen sitting on a stone platform that represented her foundation of justice, law, order and morality. 

Source: Learn Religions

Traits

Maat kept the balance and order of the universe. She was a righteous goddess who helped the ancient Egyptians develop their own sense of justice and morality. Maat had seven principles that summed up what she stood for and what the Egyptians should follow in their daily lives. The seven principles of Maat, also known as the Laws of Maat, are: justice, harmony, reciprocity, propriety, truth, balance, and order.

Symbols

Maat, like many other goddesses, is seen holding ankh, which is the symbol of eternal life. The feather, either on her arms or head, is known as the symbol of truth. When someone died, their heart would be weighted against Maat’s feather, a ritual specific to her. Sometimes, Maat was represented by a plinth, the heavy base that supports a statue or other object. In her case, it was used as the throne on which the pharaoh sat. It symbolizes that Maat is the foundation that divine rule was built on.

Festivals and Rituals

Maat had a specific ritual associated with her. It has a few different names, most commonly known by the Judgment of Osiris, but all have the same idea. According to ancient Egyptian mythology, when someone died, their soul had to then pass through the Hall of Judgment. Their heart was then weighed on a scale against Maat’s feather of truth. If the person’s heart balanced with the feather, they were able to continue their journey to the afterlife. If the heart did not balance the feather, their journey to the afterlife ended there. It was a test to see if the person followed Maat’s values and standards throughout their life. Some versions of the ritual include  the dead reciting a negative confession of all the things they never did. If the heart was heavier than Maat’s feather, it was fed to a monster, who ate it.

Souce: Wikipedia

The 42 Confessions of Maat and the 42 Negative Confessions is what ancient Egyptians lived their lives by and what Maat looked at when weighing the hearts. Some were carved into people’s tombs to help assist them in the afterlife.

The goddess was often celebrated with food, wine, and incense. Maat did not have temples of her own, but was worshiped in sanctuaries and shrines in other temples and palaces. When a new king or pharaoh took the throne, he offered a small statue of Maat to the other gods. Some kings would even describe themselves as the “Lord of Maat.” It was believed that the pharaohs or kings could bring harm onto the community, like a famine. The ancient Egyptians were big believers in cosmic harmony and the power of the universe. Any disturbance in the cosmic harmony could have major consequences. Because Maat is associated with tying all aspects of the universe together, it was important to worship her and respect her values. 

Legends associated with Maat

There are not too many legends and myths associated with Maat due to her nature of being a personification of a concept, especially compared to the other goddesses. Maat is part of the original creation of Egyptian deities by the sun god Ra.

Origin story

There is not much detail surrounding Maat’s creation, other than the fact that she was created when Ra rose from the waters at the start of time. Maat does not have a mother. When Maat was created, she filled the cosmos with justice and order. However, humans started bringing evil and injustice, as well as her counterpart Isfet, so Maat had to learn to balance. 

Source: Dr. Michael Harris

Maat’s children

Maat is married to the god of wisdom, the moon and magic—Thoth. Maat and Thoth were a perfect match in Egyptian mythology because of their similarities of intellectual principles and cosmic power. In the myth, Maat and Thoth had eight children that became the gods of the city Hermopolis. The eight children were called the Ogdad and it was believed that they were responsible for the creation of the world and everything in it. Amun and Amunet represented air; Heh and Huahet represented the eternal; Nun and Nuanet represented water; and Kuk and Kuaket represented darkness.

Modern appearances 

Maat’s modern appearances are more conceptual due to what she stands for. Maat is seen everyday all over the world. Justice, law, order, morality and honesty are all universal principles and concepts that can be understood in all parts of society today. Although there’s not more goddess Maat that people look to and worship, what she stood for still stands today. Her presence in ancient Egypt times helped the ancient Egyptians personify those abstract concepts and look toward a deity to help guide them through values and morals.

Source: The Met Museum

Final thoughts

The goddess Maat is an especially important goddess who still has ties to the modern world today. Her association with justice, good morals, and laws is still relevant today in modern society and keeps society moving forward. Maat stands for values and morals that can be seen all over the world, not just Egypt. 

Sources

Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). MAAT. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Maat-Egyptian-goddess

Ma’at. Explore Deities of Ancient Egypt. (n.d.-a). https://egyptianmuseum.org/deities-Maat#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20creation%20myths,to%20Thoth%2C%20god%20of%20wisdom.

Ma’at: The Goddess of Truth and justice. Ma’at | The Concept And Goddess Of Truth And Justice. (n.d.). https://www.ancient-egypt-online.com/maat.html

Maat: The goddess who judged the hearts of the dead. Timeless Myths. (2022c, March 21). https://www.timelessmyths.com/gods/egyptian/maat/ 

Wigington, P. (2018, March 31). Ma’at, Egyptian goddess of truth and balance. Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/the-egyptian-goddess-maat-2561790 

Wikimedia Foundation. (2023, July 8). MAAT. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maat

Part of the original nine deities that ruled ancient Egyptian mythology, Nephthys is the goddess of darkness, mourning and death. Nephthys is famously the sister of the goddess of magic and light: Isis. The sisters represented light and dark, day and night, life and death, and growth and decay. Nephthys myths and legacies are vital to understanding ancient Egyptian funerary rituals and practices.

Source: Archaeological Museum

Overview of Nephthys

Nephthys is the daughter of Nut and Geb, grandchildren of the sun god Ra. Similar to Isis and Osiris, both siblings and partners, Nephthys is the sister and partner to Set, the final sibling in this quartet. Nephthys is said to be infertile, but a popular myth of Nephthys claims she was the mother of Anubis, god of funerary rites. Nephthys is associated with death, mourning, darkness, protection, magic, childbirth and service. Nephthys is tightly wound to her sister Isis in appearance, abilities, traits and rituals—making the two a deity package deal. Nephthys’ popularity stemmed during the time of Ramasses II, which is when she started to be separate from Isis.

Titles

The translation of Nephthys is “Lady of the House” or “Lady of the Temple.” The name Nephthys is the Greek form of an epithet. The translation of her names can be associated with specific temples and aspects of Egyptian temple rituals.

Abilities

The sisters Nephthys and Isis were paired together in funerary rites as protectors of the dead and the transition to the afterlife. Nephthys had special magic relating to the dead—she had great knowledge of magical spells, charms and sacred words. She used this knowledge to protect the dead from any harm. Nephthys was a protector of the pure heart and worked hard to keep her role as a sacred protector of the dead. In some sources, when Nephthys is in the form of a kite, she would wail and shriek to signal there was a death. She aided souls into their transition to the afterlife and also acted as a source of comfort for the loved ones of the deceased. Nephthys protected the tombs of the dead. Ancient Egyptians would place statues of Nephthys in front of the tombs and in front of canopic jars, where organs of the deceased were sometimes stored.

Source: Brooklyn Museum

Characteristics

Nephthys was usually depicted as a woman or a bird. She was specifically associated with the vulture, which Egyptians thought were usually female and could not bear its own children. Vultures eat remains, therefore associated with death and decaying, which then relates to Nephthys. 

Nephthys could also be depicted as a woman in mourning with her hair compared to strips of cloth used in mummification. Hieroglyphs of her name could be seen on her head. Isis and Nephthys together were seen as “wailing women” as a part of ancient Egyptian funerary rituals. Nephthys and Isis were often depicted as identical twins with only a small symbol on top their heads separating the two.

Source: The Guardian

Traits

Nephthys has similar magical traits to her sister Isis. Because of their similarities as sisters, they are often pictured as twins. Because of her association with death and darkness, funerary rituals and services is where Nephthys was referenced quite often. She is also a protector of the divine, and would sometimes be described as a dangerous deity capable of incinerating enemies of the pharaoh with her fire breath.

A notable trait of Nephthys was her infertility. Because this is part of ancient Egyptian mythology, that trait is not always accurate and sometimes has magical deviations. The ancient Pyramid Texts named Nephthys as “substitute without vulva” or “an imitation of a woman with no vagina.” Because of this, her marriage to her brother Set was never consummated. There is a myth that Nephthys had an affair with Osiris and birthed a son named Anubis. Compared to her sister’s partnership, Set and Nephthys were very different from Isis and Osiris. Some texts suggest that Nephthys lived with her two other siblings and not Set.

Symbols

Similar to Isis, Nephthys could be depicted as a kite, symbolizing freedom and protection. The outstretched wings of the goddess in a falcon form is a symbol of protection. The association with the kite and the bird are also reminders of the ancient lamentations offered to the dead, usually by women crying. Nephthys and Isis represented the gateway entrance to temples, which also symbolized the ankh. 

Source: Flickr

Festivals and Rituals

In the Heliopolis city, Nephthys and Isis were represented by two virgin priestesses at festivals and celebrations. The priestesses would recite Lamentations of Isis and Nephthys, which is a long narrative poem that tells the story of how the sisters worked together to revive the body parts of Osiris and bring him back to life. The poem would be recited at religious ceremonies, festivals, and funerary rituals. The tradition of lamentation stemmed from the murder and revival of Osiris. Nephthys guided her sister through the funeral procession for Osiris, establishing the tradition of two women walking in front of and behind a coffin during a funeral ritual.

Nephthys did not usually have her own dedicated temple, but rather was located at temples in every region of Egypt. Everyday people were not permitted to enter the inner sanctuary of the temple where Nephthys’ statue lived. Priests and priestesses cared for the statue and observed her holy days and festivals. In the time of Ramesses II, Nephthys was given her own temple because of her intense popularity. Her temple was next to Set’s. In this time period, she started to be mentioned in texts without reference to Isis or Set.

Source: Flickr

Legends associated with Nephthys

Nephyths is part of the original nine of Egyptian deities who were created from Ra and siblings to the infamous Isis, Osiris and Set. Her origins and legends tend to intertwine with stories of her siblings.

Origin story

According to a popular ancient Egyptian myth, Isis is part of the first creation of Egyptian gods and goddesses. The world was dark and watery at the beginning and that is where Atum, considered the first Egyptian god, created himself sitting on a mound that emerged from the waters. Atum created his children, Shu and Tefnut, by spitting them out of his mouth. His children then birthed Geb and Nut, and from them came Osiris, Isis, Seth and Nephthys. This was the creation of an ennead, groups of gods and goddesses in the number nine. Numbers were sacred in Egyptian culture, and nine was no exception. Nine could stand for “all gods.” Egyptians used the number three as plurals, so nine was the plural and plurals. Nephthys is part of the first family of nine that kickstarted the Egyptian deities in ancient Egyptian culture.

The Birth of Anubis

As mentioned earlier, Nephthys was thought to be infertile, except for one myth about the birth of Anubis. Because Nephthys and Isis were closely associated, they were also thought to be identical as well. In this ancient Egyptian myth, Osiris mistook Nephthys for his wife and other sister, Isis. Nephthys and Osiris then had an affair, which was a big moral crime in ancient Egyptian times. Osiris was thought to be innocent since he did not know that he was not with his wife. Although Nephthys did not face any consequences nor was hated by Isis, she birthed a son named Anubis who she abandoned in the woods, for fear that Set, her husband, would find out about the affair and the child. Anubis is the god of funerary practices, similar to his mother.

Source: Wikipedia

Modern appearances 

Nephthys does not have many modern references at all, but the English band With the Dead have a song on an album titled “Nephthys” and referenced ancient Egyptian funerary rituals. She is also a character in Gods of Egypt where she appears as Set’s wife and disapproves of his malicious intentions.

Source: Wikipedia

Final thoughts

Nephthys is often compared and roped into a duo with her sister, Isis, but Nephthys herself also stands by herself as a meaningful goddess who is an important aspect of ancient Egyptian funerary practices and rituals associated with the dead. Nephthys’ infertility makes her unique from other goddesses who have children, which makes her legend an entertaining one. Although Nephthys is not seen in modern media, her role in ancient Egyptian time is extremely relevant. 

Sources

Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.-b). Nephthys . Encyclopædia Britannica. https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Nephthys/312673#:~:text=Like%20Isis%2C%20Nephthys%20was%20believed,Two%20Lands%2C%20and%20Great%20Goddess 

Mark, J. J. (2023, July 30). Nephthys. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/Nephthys/ 

Nephthys. Ancient Egypt Online. (n.d.). https://ancientegyptonline.co.uk/nephthys/ 

Nephthys. Mythopedia. (n.d.). https://mythopedia.com/topics/nephthys#family 

Nephthys. Explore Deities of Ancient Egypt. (n.d.-d). https://egyptianmuseum.org/deities-nephthys#:~:text=Nephthys%2C%20or%20%E2%80%9CMistress%20of%20the,and%20the%20sister%20of%20Isis. 

Rhys, D. (2023, April 26). Nephthys – goddess of darkness and Death Egyptian mythology. Symbol Sage. https://symbolsage.com/nephthys-goddess-of-darkness-egyptian/ 

Isis is known as one of the most important goddesses in ancient Egyptian history. Known for her incredible healing and magical powers, Isis is a maternal role model to the women of Egypt and her importance stretched to Europe and the Middle East. Her powers are one of the strongest magical powers of the gods. Isis is perhaps best known for her relationship to the king of the underworld, Osiris. At one point, Isis and Osiris became the most worshiped deities in Egypt. 

Overview of Isis

Isis is best known for being the goddess of healing and magic and is specifically geared toward protecting women and women’s issues. The name “Isis” is actually the Greek name for the goddess, but Egyptians knew her by “Aset.” Isis is well-known for her relationship to Osiris. The two are siblings and were in love with each other since the womb. In the first millennium BCE, Osiris and Isis became the most worshiped deities and a “power couple” of ancient Egyptian mythology. Their son Horus solidified that family as a divine trinity and a powerful Egyptian family.

Source: Louvre

Titles

The name Isis, and Aset, translates to “Queen of the Throne.” Isis is a mother figure and lots of her titles relate to that aspect of her. “The mother of all gods” and “divine mother” are just two examples. “Queen of all gods, goddesses and mothers” is another popular title for Isis.

Abilities

Isis has a variety of abilities, mostly revolving around her magical powers. Isis is known as the bringer of magic, and she was able to use that magic to heal others, bring back the dead, transform objects and more. Her magical powers were the strongest of all of the other Egyptian gods and goddesses and was able to protect the kingdom from its enemies by herself. Her powers were even stronger than her husband Osiris and her grandfather, the mighty son god, Ra. Lots of her powers deal with sickness and death. Isis is able to help citizens mourn the dead and teach them grief before she was able to bring them back to life. Isis uses her magic to perform healing spells on ordinary citizens.

Unique to Isis is the ability to absorb traits from other goddesses. She can absorb many of the funerary goddesses’ roles, specifically the goddess Hathor. 

In ancient Egyptian texts, no deity speaks more than Isis. Her ability to communicate effectively and interact with ordinary citizens through speech makes her especially unique. 

Characteristics

Isis is depicted as a human woman who wore a sheath dress. Sometimes, she is portrayed as a scorpion, cow, bird or sow. Isis is often seen with various headdresses. She wears headdresses associated with other goddesses when she assumed their traits, one of her unique abilities. The vulture headdress represented the goddess Mut and the headdress with the disc with horns represents the goddess Hathor. Isis is sometimes depicted with wings. Isis and her wings brought fresh air to the underworld when she went to go visit Osiris, her husband. 

Source: Connolly Cove

Traits

Isis originally was an obscure and unknown goddess who lacked real dedication and importance, but grew in popularity and importance as the dynastic age progressed. She is a principal deity of the dead and was connected to rituals with the deceased. Isis has lots of ties to the underworld, since her husband ruled that area, and also dealt with ordinary citizens and their grief and mourning of the dead. 

The goddess is also seen as an ideal traditional Egyptian mother and wife. Isis is content to be in the background and nurture, but is a fierce and loyal protector of her family when the time came. Her motherly instincts are prominent and strong. 

Symbols

The hieroglyphic sign of the throne is often in deceptions of Isis, most likely in relation to her son Horus as a leader and Isis’ connection to being the mother of the pharaohs. Kites and falcons are big symbols of Isis because those were used to revive Osiris in the myth of Osiris’ death. Kites symbolize freedom and protection in Egypt. Isis used a kite because it allowed her to move quickly to find Osiris throughout Egypt. Heifers were also symbols of Isis because of her motherly nature and connection to fertility. 

Source: The Met Museum

Festivals and Rituals

Isis, similar to Bastet, had a big cult following. Rulers in Egypt and Nubia built temples dedicated to the goddess. Her cult spread to the Roman Empire and was worshiped all over from England to Afghanistan to Rome to Paris and more.

Egyptians held a festival in dedication to Isis with a huge harvest to earn her respect and favors. The people also performed chants at the ceremony, perhaps another piece of history that alluded to Isis’ role as a communicator. 

Isis’ special spoken communication was significant in the development of her cult and made this cult especially important in history. Isis would speak to her cult community often—more so than the gods. Her words helped those deal with grief and accept the fate of the deceased.

Legends associated with Isis

Isis is among the first group of gods and goddesses said to create the world as we know it, according to Egyptian myth. Her stories of resilience and dedication to her family makes her an important role model to the Egyptian community. 

Origin story

According to a popular ancient Egyptian myth, Isis is part of the first creation of Egyptian gods and goddesses. The world was dark and watery at the beginning and that is where Atum, considered the first Egyptian god, created himself sitting on a mound that emerged from the waters. Atum created his children, Shu and Tefnut, by spitting them out of his mouth. His children then birthed Geb and Nut, and from them came Osiris, Isis, Seth and Nephthys. This was the creation of an ennead, groups of gods and goddesses in the number nine. Numbers were sacred in Egyptian culture, and nine was no exception. Nine could stand for “all gods.” Egyptians used the number three as plurals, so nine was the plural and plurals. Isis is part of the first family of nine that kickstarted the Egyptian deities in ancient Egyptian culture.

The Death of Osiris

The jealous and angry brother of Osiris, Seth (also known as Set), dismembered Osiris and scattered his body parts throughout Egypt. Isis was dedicated to finding her lover and searched Egypt for his body. The other Egyptian deities were so impressed with Isis and her dedication to Osiris, that they helped her revive him. Isis used her powers to put him back together, but he was neither dead or alive. He became a mummy and Isis then bore him their son, Horus. Osiris had to retreat to the underworld due to his state and became king of the dead. Isis and Horus lived in the Nile delta where Horus could stay hidden until he was fully grown and could avenge his father and claim the throne. Horus and Seth then were able to battle, but Isis was also Seth’s sister and felt pity for him during the battle. In one ending of the story, Isis helped Seth but was then beheaded by her son as a consequence. The beheading was reversed by magic and Isis and her son reconnected. Horus then took his place at the throne.

Source: Phoenician

The Poisoning of Ra

Before Horus was born, Isis began plotting his ascent to the throne. Although her magic was extremely powerful, it was difficult to harm Ra, her grandfather, because he was the mighty son god. Isis was clever and collected some of Ra’s drool, for he was old and tended to drool due to his ancient age, and used that mixed with clay to create a cobra. Isis was able to bring the clay cobra to life and guide it to the path that Ra often took daily. The cobra was able to strike Ra, and because it was made from part of him, Ra could not overcome the pain. Isis approached Ra and offered to cure him if he told her his true name. In Egyptian mythology, knowing someone’s “true name” gave you power over that person and was a guarded secret. Ra tried to trick Isis by giving her names he was known by, but not his true name. Isis would not budge as Ra’s pain intensified. Isis and Ra came to an agreement that if Isis cured him, Ra would give Horus, who was still unborn, his eyes. Ra’s eyes meant the sun and the moon, which were the sources of his power. This event laid part of the exposition for Horus to take his place at the throne and become a sun god himself, just like Ra.

Influences of other religions/cultures on Isis

Like many Egyptian deities, the worship of Isis ended with the rise of Christianity. However, little details of Isis may still be represented in Christianity. The worship of Isis may have influenced the worship and devotion to Mary, a figure in Christianity, but the evidence is ambiguous. Images of Isis nursing her son Horus may have also influenced Christian artists for portrayals of Mary and Jesus.

Source: The Walters Art Museum

Modern appearances 

Besides the possible clues in Christian art, there isn’t a ton of Isis in modern society. Isis and Osiris are depicted on the ceiling of Pope Alexander VI’s private apartments in Italy. Bob Dylan’s popular song “Isis” also has several references to Egypt.

Source: Columbia

Final thoughts

Isis’ impact on Egyptian culture and history is immense. Her dedication to her role as a mother and a wife is admirable. Isis’ dedication to her family made her a big role model to women in ancient Egyptian times. Her magical abilities were used to service deities as well as ordinary citizens. Isis’ impact on speech and communication made her an important historical marker in Egyptian history and parts of Isis can still be seen today in modern Christianity. Although she isn’t worshiped anymore, the legends and abilities surrounding the goddess makes her a memorable and significant part of Egyptian mythology.  

Sources

Bommas, M. (2022, July 21). “I am isis”: The role of speech in the cult of Isis. Egypt and the Classical World: Cross-Cultural Encounters in Antiquity. https://www.getty.edu/publications/egypt-classical-world/03/#fn:1

Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Isis. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Isis-Egyptian-goddess 

Ennead. The Global Egyptian Museum | Ennead. (n.d.). http://www.globalegyptianmuseum.org/glossary.aspx?id=147 

Goddess Isis: Fascinating facts about the mother of all gods. TheCollector. (2021, September 24). https://www.thecollector.com/ancient-egyptian-goddess-isis/ 

Isis. Explore Deities of Ancient Egypt. (n.d.). https://egyptianmuseum.org/deities-isis#:~:text=Great%20mother%20Isis%2C%20the%20goddess,which%20is%20typically%20a%20throne 

Isis. Mythopedia. (n.d.). https://mythopedia.com/topics/isis 

In the stark contrast between destruction and healing, the goddess Sekhmet is one of the most popular and most important deities in ancient Egyptian myth. Referred to as the one who loves power and the one who protects the law, Sekhmet is a feared and respected force for the ancient Egyptian population. Her love of the law can lead to the destruction of humanity but also provide a sense of healing. Sekhmet’s complex nature and boldness of a lioness goddess make her and her story so intriguing, dating all the way back to 2300 BCE.

From EgyptianMuseum.org

Sekhmet Overview

According to Egyptian mythology, the lioness Sekhmet was one of the most prominent goddesses in Egyptian history.  She is depicted as a woman with the head of a lion wearing a sun disc. The goddess of hot desert sun, plague, chaos, war, healing and many more, Sekhmet was an equally feared and respected goddess, thought to be the daughter of Ra, the sun god. Her name is derived from the Egyptian word “sekhem,” which means “power” or “might.” Sekhmet was mentioned multiple times in “The Book of the Dead,” an ancient Egyptian funerary text, both as a destructive force and as a respected source. It is possible that Sekhmet was derived from North African descent and has a distinct Egyptian and Nubian identity, and was not well received from the Graeco-Roman community. 

Sekhmet’s first mention appears in The Pyramid Texts, ancient Egypt’s oldest known inscriptions found within some of the earliest pyramids, dating back to the Old Kingdom. The insides are covered with columns upon columns of intense hieroglyphic text. Sekhmet is first mentioned here by her name in connection with two other feline goddesses. In some of the text, it is said that the Pharaoh was conceived by Sekhmet, and birthed by another goddess. Although this is her first mention, it is most likely that she already had a strong mythological following before these inscriptions were written.

Titles

Some of her titles and other names include “She who is powerful,” “The One who loves Ma’at,” “One who has control,” “Protector of Ma’at,” “Lady of Terror” and “Lady of Life,” and “Red Lady.” Ma’at refers to the ancient Egyptian law and order system. Although she has many, many titles, most of them relate to her strength and her determination for human order. Other titles also relate to how she was feared by people, as well as how she was a healing source for people.

Abilities

Sekhmet is said to have many extreme abilities, one notable one being the ability to breathe fire. She was believed to have the ability to cause plagues, but also the ability to stop diseases. The ancient Egyptians believed that Sekhmet had the ability to cure every problem, so in order to stay on her good side, they would offer her food and drink, burn incense for her, and play her music. The phrase “blood thirsty” is often associated with Sekhmet because of her origin story and the destruction to humanity she brought.

From HistoryCooperative.com

Characteristics

Sekhmet has the body of a human woman and the head of a lion. She is often depicted wearing red—which symbolizes blood. Sekhmet was often seen with the goddess Bastet, who took the form of a cat. Bastet was sometimes considered Sekhmet’s counterpart, embodying the sun’s nurturing rays compared to Sekhmet’s mainly destructive ways. The two can be seen together in a recovered statue residing at the Art Institute of Chicago. Sekhmet and Bastet can be characterized as one goddess, each representing a unique and juxtaposing side of her. Sekhmet’s relationship to Bastet is complex and is mentioned in many sources—although not all are the same information, the general consensus is that Sekhmet and Bastet are deeply connected and are a yin and ying duo in Egyptian mythology. Bastet was mentioned in The Pyramid Texts at the time Sekhmet was.

Sekhmet’s character seemed to be built around the waters, deserts and intensely hot sun in Egyptian landscape, especially in relation to her fire breath, rivers flowing with blood and her other destructive ways. Sekhmet’s representation as a lioness is not a mistake. Sekhmet is one of the most popular and recognizable Egyptian lionesses, which also symbolizes her fierce and bold self. Lion imagery was common in the predynastic period of Egypt and can be found carved on ceremonial palettes. Ceremonial palettes were inferred to be used as a plate to grind cosmetics in order to suit up for hunting rituals.

Traits

Although she is associated with fear and chaos, Sekhmet was well respected and was an advocate for justice. As seen in her origin story, Sekhmet can be full of rage and determination that is threatening to human life. Her terrifying and untamed nature sparked lots of fear to the Egyptian population and is still able to represent the many fears of humanity today. Many other female Egyptian deities and goddesses have qualities of kindness, beauty and fertility. Sekhmet is unique because of her destructive nature and her ability to strike fear in any person. Her strong and bold traits make her a special, yet highly respected and important, part of Egyptian mythological history. 

From MetMuseum.org

Symbols

In some representations, Sekhmet is seated and is holding the ankh of life, one of the most famous and widely used symbols in ancient Egypt. Sekhmet holding the ankh of life could represent her providing life and fertility through the yearly Nile floods. Representations of her standing show her holding a scepter made of papyrus, which is the symbol of northern or “Lower Egypt.” The sun disc above her head marks her as the defender of the sun. The uraeus, a symbol of power worn on the headdresses of Egyptian deities, by Sekhmet’s forehead signals her as the royal daughter of Ra. The color of her robes that she wears are typically red, to symbolize blood.

Festivals and Rituals

At the beginning of the year, the Egyptians held an annual festival of intoxication where they drank large quantities of wine, which imitates the drunkenness that stopped the wrath of Sekhmet when she almost destroyed humanity. Betsy Bryan, an archaeologist with John Hopkins University, excavated the temple of Mut in Luxor and presented her findings of the festival of intoxication in 2006. Illustrations showed the priestess getting served an extreme amount of wine, indicating mass participation in the festival. Important figures such as doctors can be seen participating in the festival, meaning that Sekhmet was widely respected among all professions.

Legends associated with Sekhmet

A multitude of stories based on Sekhmet are far and few between, but her origin story is a memorable and distinguished story that resulted in a festival celebrated by all. With most myths, there are variations and alternating versions that add to the mystery of the story.

Origin story

Sekhmet’s origin story is caused by her father’s disgust with humanity. The original purpose of her creation was to punish humanity for its rampant and unjust ways, and then leads to an ancient festival based on Sekhmet and a well-respected name for herself that has survived to modern times.

The true origin story of Sekhmet is unclear. It is mentioned in myths that Ra, Sekhmet’s father, created her to destroy mankind because mankind was not upholding the laws of Ma’at, the concept of law and order during ancient Egyptian times. Ra took Hathor, another goddess, and sent her to earth in the form of a lion, who became Sekhmet. Sekhmet began her rampage on the human population, but was taking it too far. The fields ran with human blood and Ra needed Sekhmet to stop because he himself was not a cruel deity and saw too much damage being done. Sekhmet ignored Ra’s orders to stop, so Ra poured beer and pomegranate juice, which looked like blood, in Sekhmet’s path. She drank the mixture believing it was blood and became so intoxicated she slept for three days straight. When she awoke from her drunken state, Sekhmet was no longer blood thirsty and humanity was saved.

From SciencePhotoLibrary.com

The love that birthed the sphinx

In another version of Sekhmet’s origin story, when Sekhmet awoke from her intoxicated state, the first thing she sees is Ptah, another deity, and instantly falls in love with him. Their union of creation and destruction resulted in their child Nefertum, who was associated with healing, and therefore reestablished the order of Ma’at. Another version of the myth of Sekhmet’s child is that Sekhmet and Ptah’s child is the sphinx, a moon god who is portrayed in mummy form.

The Mother of the Pharaohs

Mentioned earlier was that Sekhmet’s first recorded mention was in The Pyramid Texts where it is written that the Pharaoh was conceived from Sekhmet. This inscription and all historical elements of ancient Egypt suggest that Sekhmet also could be considered the mother of the Pharaohs and that these men would gain the title because of their connection to Sekhmet, as the Pharaoh in The Pyramid of Texts wrote. Sekhmet is a lover of law and order, so it is possible that her connection to the royalty and government of the Pharaohs is true.

Modern appearances 

A statue of Sekhmet/Bastest lives at The Met named “Statue of the Goddess Sakhmet.” According to The Met’s website, this statue is one of the six hundred some statues created of the goddess during the reign of Amenhotep II. These statues can be traced back to the mortuary complex of the king at Kom el Heitan on the Theban west bank, and the Mut Temple Complex at Karnak on the east bank at Thebes. Other recovered statues and representations of Sekhmet live all over the world.

From artic.edu

According to the book Pagan Portals by Olivia Church, today Sekhmet is noted as the “Goddess of Healing.” Understanding ancient Egyptian deities, mythology and worship can be very confusing, as many of these deities crossed the lines between good and bad. However, Sekhmet’s modern title of the “Goddess of Healing” implies that this is one of her main occupations and what many people look to her as. 

There are rituals and practices today that one can participate in to channel Sekhmet and work through fear and anger to seek healing or calmness. One book reads, “In this book you are guided through a shamanic ritual of alchemical transformation and initiation with Sekhmet, working with this powerful goddess to release your most deeply rooted negative behavior patterns and be reborn into a more purified state of consciousness” (Sekhmet: Transformation in the Belly of the Goddess by Nicki Scully).

Sekhmet Summary

Sekhmet, although an ancient Egyptian myth, gives humanity today a lesson to look back on and a mythical source as to what can happen to humanity if we ignore the law and order put in place meant to keep us safe and keep us stable. Sekhmet’s story is one of female power and respect, resulting in her becoming one of the most important goddesses in ancient Egyptian mythology. 

Sources:

Sekhmet. Ancient Egypt Online. (n.d.). https://ancientegyptonline.co.uk/sekhmet/ 

Parikh, A. (2023, April 27). Sekhmet: Egypt’s forgotten esoteric goddess. History Cooperative. https://historycooperative.org/sekhmet/ 

Simon ConnorF.R.S. – FNRS – Université de Liège. (2023, February 11). The statues of Sekhmet: “mistress of dread.” ARCE. https://arce.org/resource/statues-sekhmet-mistress-dread/ 

Statue of the goddess sakhmet: New Kingdom. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. (n.d.). https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/544484 

Campbell, Joseph. Goddesses: Mysteries of the Feminine Divine (The Collected Works of Joseph Campbell) (p. 169). Joseph Campbell Foundation. Kindle Edition. 

YouTube. (2022, November 21). Sekhmet, lady of flame, eye of ra: An introduction to the ancient Egyptian goddess of war. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjJQyOgeWiY 

Monaghan PhD, Patricia. Encyclopedia of Goddesses and Heroines (p. 22). New World Library. Kindle Edition. 

Church, O. (2022). Pagan portals: Sekhmet: Lady of Flame, Eye of Ra. Moon Books. 

Transformed from a powerful lion to a gentle cat, Bastet is an Egyptian goddess known for her feline presence and cult following. Bastet’s gentle nature associated her with fertility and home life, specifically protecting the lives of women and children. This goddess’ story tells us more about Egyptian history and its connection to the cat—from goddess to lovable pets. Bastet is attached to myths and icons such as a cunning serpent, the color turquoise, the most elaborate festival in ancient Egyptian history, and of course the presence of Bastet’s cult that stretched throughout Europe. Bastet symbolizes the sacred bond between human and animals. Although her prime was during ancient Egyptian times, her legacy still remains today.

Source: World History

Overview of Bastet

Originally worshiped in the form of a lioness, and then later a cat, Bastet is the goddess of fertility, cats, home, festivity, joy, dance, childbirth and domesticity. Bastet is the daughter of the sun god Ra. She is native to Bubastis in the Nile River delta, in Lower Egypt. She was one of the most important and highly worshiped ancient Egyptian deities. Her transformation to a gentle cat was enticing and a prime recognizable symbol of ancient Egyptian myth and culture.

Titles

The origin and true meaning of Bastet is a bit of a mystery. The meaning of Bastet is unknown and a point of scholarly debate. Her name was originally B’sst which became Ubaste, then Bast, then Bastet. Geraldine Pinch, a writer and Egyptologist, claims that “her name probably means She of the Ointment Jar” as she was associated with protection. Her hieroglyphics translate to ointment jar. She was sometimes linked with perfume and sweet smells, which plays into the translation of her name.

Abilities

Bastet’s abilities are associated with protection—protection from disease, protection in the afterlife and protection of cats. Bastet was able to ward off diseases, specifically those targeting women and children, and save lives. She guided spirits through the afterlife and protected the dead. Protector is her main ability and what she is best known for, making her a sacred goddess.

Cats also became sacred in Egypt, partly due to Bastet’s success. They believed cats were the physical incarnation of Bastet. Cats were seen as divine because they worshiped the sun and the moon equally—bathing in both sunlight and moonlight. These cats also hunted and killed vermin that would tarnish the crops that humans would plant, making Egyptians incredibly grateful to the cats. The goddess protected that sacred relationship between the animal world and the human one. In one story of invasion in Egyptian history, the Egyptians were too scared to fight for fear of hurting the animals and offending Bastet, so they decided to surrender. Her power and respect was that important.

Characteristics

Black cats are said to be a descendant of the goddess Bastet, so Bastet was in the form of a black cat. She typically wears an elaborate ornamented dress. In a statue at The Met, Bastet is wearing a dress with an intricate striped pattern. The vertical pattern of these strips could represent the striped fur of a cat.

Source: The Met Museum

Traits

Bastet was represented as a cat, referring to her gentle nature. The goddess is associated with childbirth, motherhood and domesticity, meaning she has a nurturing and compassionate trait that differs from other goddesses such as Sekhmet, her opposite. The double nature of Bastet had been documented in earlier ancient Egyptian textual sources. The “Loyalist teaching” of the 12th dynasty describes the ideal characteristics of a king as: “He is Bastet who protects the two lands. He who worships him will be protected by his arm. He is Sekhmet against he who transgresses his order. The one he hates will be under distress.”

Symbols

Bastet carries a sistrum, an ancient percussion instrument. The sistrum is a U-shaped metal instrument made of bronze or brass with crossbars stretched across. When the sistrum is shaken, it creates a jangling noise from the clank of metals. Bastet is often seen with this musical instrument to associate her festivity and dance. The sistrum can also represent the link to Hathor, another Egyptian goddess who transformed from a violent destroyer to a gentler and milder version.

Source: Wikipedia

Festivals and Rituals

Heavily associated with Bastet is a cult. The Bastet cult was from Memphis, a city and the capital of ancient Egypt. The cult was carried to Italy by the Romans. Traces have been found in Rome, Ostia, Nemi and Pompeii. The earliest knowledge of Bastet at Bubastis dates back to the reign of Pepi I of the 6th dynasty (around 2270 BCE). The center where Bastet was worshiped is heavily destroyed with no real recognizable images, but that center was one of the most rich and most luxurious cities. People from all over came to worship Bastet and would even bring dead cats to the center. There are tombs nearby with images that allude to Bastet having the most elaborate festival in Egypt. The festival included feasts, music, dancing and wine. During the festival, sacred rattles were used. Tomb stelas, a stone or wooden slab, from the cemetery of Bubastis preserved the titles of Bastet temple administrators, so it can be assumed that a temple and cult of the Bastet existed there by the end of the Old Kingdom. One tradition was the “raising of the skirts” by the women to showcase their genitals as a message of freedom of social constraint and Bastet’s association with fertility and childbirth.

Legends associated with Bastet

Bastet has a mysterious origin story that is not concrete. There are multiple versions that all seem plausible, but all align with the theme of changing from a head-strong and violent lioness, to a gentle and nurturing cat.

Origin story

One story says that Bastet was sent to Nubia by her father Ra. Nubia was a special place in Egyptian mythology by the Nile River. Ra sent Bastet there when she was a lioness to rage in isolation. Bastet then returned as a cat. Some believe Bastet’s trip to Nubia was meant to symbolize the period of unapproachability in the cycle of menstruation. This theory was based on scenes that were found in hieroglyphic paintings at Thebes. Another version of Bastet’s creation was through Sekhmet’s origin story. Sekhmet is another Egyptian deity who is often associated with Bastet. Sekhmet began her rampage on the human population after her father, Ra’s, request, but was taking it too far. The fields ran with human blood and Ra needed Sekhmet to stop because he himself was not a cruel deity. Sekhmet ignored Ra’s orders to stop, so Ra poured beer and pomegranate juice, which looked like blood, in Sekhmet’s path. She drank the mixture believing it was blood and became so intoxicated she slept for three days straight. When she awoke from her drunken state, Sekhmet awoke as a Bastet, a gentler and sweeter version of Sekhmet.

Slaying of Apep

Ra’s greatest enemy was a serpent named Apep, sometimes named Apophis, who was associated with chaos and darkness. Apep’s goal was to destroy Ra and cover everything in darkness. While Apep only operated in darkness, Ra could only really operate in light, so it was impossible for him to stop Apep and his plan. Bastet in her feline form had excellent night vision, making her the one to stop Apep. Bastet was able to slay Apep one night and protect her father. Apep’s death resulted in the sun continuing to shine and the crops continuing to grow.

Source: Exemplore

The Creator of Turquoise

It was said that when Bastet blood touched the ground, it turned to a turquoise color. Because of this, it was considered that Bastet was the creator of the color turquoise. Bastet’s blood is believed to be menstrual blood, associating the color of turquoise to all women.

Influences of other religions/cultures on Bastet

Bastet’s transformation from a lioness to a cat could reflect the subtle changes in religious beliefs in ancient Egyptian history.  In the ancient Pyramid Texts, Bastet seemed to take the role of the king’s nursemaid and protector as he grew. Bastet was also seen as a protector of the dead and guide in the afterlife, establishing a role in the religious belief in the afterlife. Bastet was an extremely important part of Egyptian history and continued to be popular in the Roman Empire, until her importance vanished during the rise of Christianity, like many other Egyptian gods and goddesses. 

Modern appearances 

The English fiction writer Neil Gaiman referenced the goddess in several of his works, including American Gods and comic series The Sandman. Paul Gallico, an American novelist, wrote a 1957 novel Thomasina, the Cat Who Thought She Was God with Bastet as its main character. The book was later adapted into the 1963 Disney film The Three Lives of Thomasina. Bastet has appeared in a number of video games as well. She was featured in the MOBA Smite as a playable character, and again in Overwatch and Age of Mythology and Age of Empires: Mythology.

Source: Wikipedia

Many pieces of art of Bastet have been recovered and featured in museums throughout the world. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a bronze and metal statue of Bastet from Florence Blumenthal. The Brooklyn Museum also has a standing statue of Bastet with the sistrum.

Final Thoughts

The Egyptian goddess Bastet had an incredible influence on the lives of the ancient Egyptians. Her ability as a protector and her gentle nature made her one of the most worshiped ancient deities. Bastet’s form as a cat created the relationship between humans and their pets, signifying cats as a divine animal. Her success is seen in the cult created just for her, spanning all around Europe. Bastet remains one of the most popular and studied Egyptian goddess to this day, and for good reason.

Sources

Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). “Bastet,” Encyclopædia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Bastet 

Maup van de Kerkhof, “Bastet: Ancient Egypt’s Most Important Cat Goddess”, History Cooperative, November 16, 2022, https://historycooperative.org/bastet/. 

Meehan, Evan. “Bastet.” <em>Mythopedia</em>, November 29, 2022. <a href=”https://mythopedia.com/topics/bastet“>https://mythopedia.com/topics/bastet“>https://mythopedia.com/topics/bastet</a>.

“Bastet: About.” LibGuides at The Westport Library, (n.d.), https://westportlibrary.libguides.com/bastet 

Würzburg, E. L.-A. “The goddess bastet and the cult of feline deities in the Nile Delta,” ARCE, February 11, 2023. https://arce.org/resource/goddess-bastet-and-cult-feline-deities-nile-delta/ 

Mark, J. J. “Bastet,” World History Encyclopedia, October 9, 2022. https://www.worldhistory.org/Bastet/ 

The first Egyptian goddess from Egyptian myth is Tefnut—a goddess known for her wrath and her peace. The daughter of the powerful Atum-Ra (known as both in myth) created from spit, Tefnut is the goddess of moisture, rainfall and humidity. She shares her life with her twin brother and husband Shu, the air god. Tefnut’s impact and history isn’t as thorough as some of the other Egyptian goddesses, but her presence as the first daughter of Ra in the creation of the world makes her a notable point in Egyptian history. Her powers can dictate the way humanity lives and thrives, so gaining this goddess’ respect is a must. Tefnut is a mother, daughter, sister and most importantly—the powerful Eye of Ra.

Source: Study.com

Overview of Tefnut

Tefnut is the goddess of rainfall, moisture, humidity and all things to do with the well-being of the environment and crops. As one of the oldest goddesses in Egyptian history and the daughter of Ra, Tefut has the important title of the Eye of Ra, the feminine counterpart of the sun god Ra’s power. Her identity as a lunar goddess is connected to moisture, and her identity as a solar goddess is connected to dryness. Tefnut is the twin sister and husband of the air god Shu—the two children created by Ra at the start of time. Tefnut and Shu have two children themselves. Geb is the god of earth and Nut is the goddess of the night sky. 

Titles

Tefnut name translates to “She of moisture.” Her name could also be an onomatopoeia for spitting, as a reference to the nature of her creation. The roots of her name can be found in ancient Egyptian language for “moist” and “spit.”

Source: God and Demons Wiki

Abilities

Tefnut’s main ability is the power of rainfall. Because Egypt had lots of hot and dry deserts, rain was an especially cherished gift. Tefnut’s rain contributed to the growth of the Nile delta. The Egyptian people believed that as long as the Nile flowed, Egyptian civilization would stand strong. Tefnut could also cause heat waves and droughts, however. Her temper is a significant part of Tefnut and could affect everyone else around her. She is vital to Earth’s growth and flourishment, as well as surviving daily life.

Characteristics

Tefnut is usually depicted as having the body of a human woman and the head of a lion. She wore a solar disc on her head to represent her place as a solar deity. Cobras can also sometimes be seen being worn on Tefnut’s head. She holds a staff in one hand and the Ankh in the other. Tefnut being depicted as a full human is rare.

Traits

The goddess represented peace, fertility and good harvest. Tefnut, however, is also associated with wrath, anger and grudges due to her lioness form. The Eye of Ra is an important trait of Tefnut and can also be attributed to other goddesses such as Hathor, Sekhmet, Mut and Bastet. The Eye of Ra goddess is the mother, sibling, daughter and more of Ra. The eye goddess is usually represented as a lioness, cobra or other protective symbols. The Eye of Ra is an extension of Ra’s powers and is associated with the sun disc. The sun and moon are referred to as the “eyes” of Egyptian gods and goddesses by ancient Egyptians. It is a connection between the eye and moisture, but also the heat of the sun—which connects to Tefnut’s primary powers.

Symbols

Lionesses were a symbol of Tefnut. The Ankh she holds is the ancient Egyptian symbolization of life. The shape of the Ankh is modeled after a sandal strap. The Ankh is often depicted being held or offered by deities or pharaohs. The solar disc, which is representative of sun gods and specifically Ra, on her head represents power and command, while the cobras on her head are celestial signs of protection and defense. 

Source: Wikipedia

Festivals and Rituals

Tefnut was part of the original group of nine deities who were worshiped at Heliopolis, a major city in ancient Egypt. Heliopolis and Leontopolis were the two cities with the primary areas for the worship and cult centers of Tefnut. There was a sanctuary called the Lower Menset that was specifically dedicated to Tefnut.

Legends associated with Tefnut

Tefnut was among the first creations of Egyptian gods and goddesses, making her a valuable deity with tight relations to the most powerful gods and goddesses. Tefnut’s altering personalities of wrath and peace make her an interesting topic for legends and myths.

Origin story

According to a popular ancient Egyptian myth, Tefnut is part of the first creation of Egyptian gods and goddesses. The world was dark and watery at the beginning and that is where Atum, considered the first Egyptian god, created himself sitting on a mound that emerged from the waters. Atum created Tefnut and her twin brother Shu by spitting them out of his mouth. Other versions say he sneezed them out. Tefnut and Shu then birthed Geb and Nut, and from them came Osiris, Isis, Seth and Nephthys. This was the creation of an ennead, groups of gods and goddesses in the number nine. Numbers were sacred in Egyptian culture, and nine was no exception. Nine could stand for “all gods.” Egyptians used the number three as plurals, so nine was the plural and plurals. Isis is part of the first family of nine that kickstarted the Egyptian deities in ancient Egyptian culture. Tefnut’s gifts of moisture relate to her creation of being spit or sneezed out.

Creation of humans

Tefnut and Shu are connected to the creation of humans in Egyptian myth. According to the legend, Tefnut and Shu went to go explore the waters of Nun and after some time, their father Ra (Atum) was worried and sent out his Eye to find them. When Tefnut and Shu were returned safely, Ra wept and his tears created the first humans.

Souce: DeviantArt (made by lizard-mantidae)

Nubia and the return to Egypt

Because of her lioness nature, Tefnut was also a grudge holder and full of wrath. One story notes that Tefnut fled to Nubia when she was upset and took all of her moisture and rain with her. Egypt soon dried up and turned into chaos. While in Nubia, Tefnut turned herself into a lioness and went on a rampage to get back at Ra. Shu was sent to get his sister by their father and tried to convince Tefnut to come back to Egypt. Shu led Tefnut to Egypt with a joyous parade of Nubian musicians and dancers. Tefnut went from city to city to bring back the moisture and rain until she was finally reunited with Ra and took back her place as his Eye. 

Final thoughts

Though the information of Tefnut may be limited compared to other goddesses, her title of the daughter of Ra and the Eye of Ra makes her an influential goddess in the ancient Egyptian world. Her double persona as a lunar goddess and solar goddess gives her many abilities that control the well-being of the Egyptian world. Tefnut paved the way for incoming gods and goddesses as the ancient deities continue to grow.

Sources:

Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Ankh. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/ankh 

Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.-b). Tefnut. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Tefnut/313796#:~:text=In%20ancient%20Egyptian%20religion%20and,of%20the%20air%20god%20Shu. 

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