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Hathor and Bat
Feb. 3rd, 2021 10:12 pmSo, it seems that many of the images I think of as clearly Hathor have their origins in a goddess called Bat. The sistrum is hers, and her city was called the city of sistrums. She and Hathor were similar goddesses in neighbouring areas (nomes - provinces or prefectures), and Hathor eventually absorbed her.
Here is a copy of a statue of King Mankaure, dating from approx 2530 BC, or more than four thousand years ago;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menkaure#/media/File:Menkaura.jpg
Hathor stands on one side, and Bat stands on the other. Note Bat's crown/id: there's that particular face shape, right up to Dendera which was refurbished with those faces as Hathor in Roman times (https://sailingstonetravel.com/dendera-temple-of-hathor/). Note that in the Menkaure statue, Hathor's horns curve outward, and the horns on Bat's crown/id curl inward.
There are a couple of puzzles I would like to point out but not hazzard a guess about: Egyptian iconography was very stylized, with each choice having a meaning. Figures standing in statues usually lead with the left foot. Note Menkaure. Why is Hathor's left foot slightly forward, and Bat's is not? Also, do you see the little tubes or dowels that are held in Menkaure's clenched hand? Do you see that Bat has them also? One of the things I have read about these is that most adult male figures have this tube/dowel in an unoccupied clenched fist or both fists - and women never do. Goddesses are not limited by mortal rules of course, but what does it mean? The article I read tried to make the case for these tubes being handkerchiefs, sort of like a man's suit jacket pocket kerchief. I was not convinced. The point is that they are not just stone left in to fill the void because women's fists are clenched without them. So, even though we have no idea what they are and what they are for - why does Bat have them?
And, I have now found two other versions of this grouping, and King Menkaure and Hathor stay the same (the hands may be different), but the third being changes. Hathor's left foot is always half a step forward.
Apparently all of these pieces are in good shape because they were deliberately buried. As someone I was reading last night reminded her readers: most of the artwork we have was never meant to be viewed. It was for the Gods and the Dead only.
Intriguing.
Here is a copy of a statue of King Mankaure, dating from approx 2530 BC, or more than four thousand years ago;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menkaure#/media/File:Menkaura.jpg
Hathor stands on one side, and Bat stands on the other. Note Bat's crown/id: there's that particular face shape, right up to Dendera which was refurbished with those faces as Hathor in Roman times (https://sailingstonetravel.com/dendera-temple-of-hathor/). Note that in the Menkaure statue, Hathor's horns curve outward, and the horns on Bat's crown/id curl inward.
There are a couple of puzzles I would like to point out but not hazzard a guess about: Egyptian iconography was very stylized, with each choice having a meaning. Figures standing in statues usually lead with the left foot. Note Menkaure. Why is Hathor's left foot slightly forward, and Bat's is not? Also, do you see the little tubes or dowels that are held in Menkaure's clenched hand? Do you see that Bat has them also? One of the things I have read about these is that most adult male figures have this tube/dowel in an unoccupied clenched fist or both fists - and women never do. Goddesses are not limited by mortal rules of course, but what does it mean? The article I read tried to make the case for these tubes being handkerchiefs, sort of like a man's suit jacket pocket kerchief. I was not convinced. The point is that they are not just stone left in to fill the void because women's fists are clenched without them. So, even though we have no idea what they are and what they are for - why does Bat have them?
And, I have now found two other versions of this grouping, and King Menkaure and Hathor stay the same (the hands may be different), but the third being changes. Hathor's left foot is always half a step forward.
Apparently all of these pieces are in good shape because they were deliberately buried. As someone I was reading last night reminded her readers: most of the artwork we have was never meant to be viewed. It was for the Gods and the Dead only.
Intriguing.
